The Surprise of Faith & Hukkat

Oy: the presidential elections.

An aging Democratic incumbent who refuses (so far) to step out of the race.

But t’s undeniable.

He looks and sounds incredibly feeble.

Does it matter that Trump, too, is unfit for the presidency—though for different reasons?

Nobody seems to care.

The fact is, there comes a time when one must accept that it’s time to pass things on to the younger generations.

As hard as it is for one’s ego.

To be able to face aging and death straight on.

Of course, I have empathy.

(Will I have the courage to face it straight on when it’s my turn to turn things over?)

Then there’s fear—of a different sort.

For today’s world, and our future—near and far.

This week in Torah, Miriam, Moses’ sister, dies.

Immediately after, the wells all dry up.

In the ancient rabbinic mind, Miriam is connected with the wells and the flow of water.

Now that she is gone, there is no water.

The Israelites panic.

Again, they rail against Moses.

He speaks—or complains—to God.

God tells him, “Take you staff in your hand, and speak to the rock. From there, water will flow abundantly.”

Moses, in his frustration perhaps, in anger and resentment, hits the rock.

Water flows.

God is not happy.

In the ancient rabbinic mind, Moses claimed the miracle as his own rather than crediting God.

His words are even a little sarcastic: “Listen, you rebels! Shall we get water for you out of this rock?”

For this, God punishes him; he shall not enter the Promised Land with the people he has led for 40 years.

Later in the Torah reading, the people sing a song.

It is a different type of song from the Song at the Sea when fleeing to freedom.

Instead of their song being led (and controlled, as Rabbi Tracy Nathan points out) by Moses, they sing their own song.

Not only do they not use violence, they sing to the ground, asking it to bring forth water.

“Spring up, O, well—Sing to it…”

Instead of receiving manna from heaven, whose lesson was about learning to have faith, they learn a different lesson (again, Tracy Nathan).

The Israelites have learned to bring forth water by themselves, in a community effort—something they can take pride in.

Miriam had taught them about community building, according to our sages.

Water spread out throughout the camps in rivers, reaching everywhere, not just springing from one source.

In essence, the people have learned to create their own grass roots movement.

And now.

It is time to pass the mantle to the next generation.

We deserve better presidential choices—not just between two old white men who either want to destroy our country and/or are out of touch with what younger generations cry out for.

Climate Change/Climate Disaster, for one.

Peace, for another.

After eight months of bombing and deprivation, it is proven that Netanyahu’s war will not bring about the live release of hostages.

Nor was it ever meant to.

Yet the war machine continues to be fed.

What about feeding a peace machine?

But we mustn’t despair.

Remember the last-minute shock of the Far Right losing in France just this week!

We face our own dismal predictions, but we don’t have to believe them.

But maybe we can take courage from the lesson of manna and faith from the Torah given by God.

Or like water springing from a rock.

And maybe we can take courage from the ability of young people to build grass roots movements of peace.

From the ground up.

We don’t know what miracles abound.

Let’s get ready to be surprised.

And say Amen.