TRANSFORMATIONS

Dvar Torah for Parashat Shemot (5785/2025)

(Exodus 1:1 – 6:1)

This Shabbat our yearly lectionary cycle arrives at the opening chapters of the second book of the Torah, the book known in Hebrew as “Sefer Shemot”.  In English, we refer to it as the Book of Exodus, since the Exodus from Egypt is its main subject matter.  However, the literal translation of the Hebrew title Sefer Shemot is “The Book of Names” – And that title is derived from the first words of the book:  “Ve’eyleh shemot b’ney yisra’el haba’im mitzraymah eyt ya’akov…”  (“These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob…”) 

It’s notable that within a single verse we have the name Yisrael/Israel as well as the name Ya’akov/Jacob.

This reminds us of the theme of transformation that informs so many of our sacred stories.  Our third patriarch is referred to in this single verse both by his birth name Ya’akov -- meaning “the overreacher” or “the one who acts like a heel”; and by the name he acquired after his mysterious nocturnal wrestling match – Yisra’el -  which the Torah explains as being derived from “sarita Elohim” – “you have struggled with God and with human beings and you have prevailed.” [1] The transformation of the father is reflected in the transformation of the children.  Originally, they were just one nuclear family but now they are a nation.  This idea is first expressed a few verses later at Exodus 1:9 when Pharaoh says to the Egyptians –

הִנֵּ֗ה עַ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֥ב וְעָצ֖וּם מִמֶּֽנּוּ

Behold, Ahm Benei Yisrael [THE NATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL] are much too numerous for us.

That formulation – AHM BENEI YISRAEL – THE NATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL – is significant.  The BANIM[2] (the children) of the patriarch named Israel have become the AHM (the people or nation) of Israel.

As we gather this evening, the nation of the Jewish people --- ISRAEL – remains on edge as we await the start of the ceasefire that has just been agreed to by Hamas and Israel.

As we have been doing now for over a year, we pray for the release of all of the remaining hostages as well as for an end to the suffering of Gazan civilians. Yet still, it remains the case that any solution that leaves Hamas in power in Gaza will likely just bring a temporary lull before Hamas and its supporters try again to destroy Israel. 

And any solution that prolongs the presence of religious nationalist extremists in the Israeli governing coalition will likely further delay progress towards what remains the only possible road to peace --- that of the creation of an independent Palestinian State in Gaza and the West Bank existing peacefully alongside the State of Israel.

Currently, neither the leaders of Hamas nor the governing coalition in Israel are willing to commit to working towards that ultimate goal.

Perhaps, despite all our fears and concerns about the incoming Trump administration, maybe Trump and his advisers will be able to pressure Israel and the Palestinians in that direction. 

Stranger things have happened in American history.  (See: Nixon in China).

Meanwhile, our AMERICAN nation also remains on edge as we follow the ongoing devastating news of the fires in California.  Our hearts go out to all those affected, including of course, our previous rabbi – and my Rabbinical school classmate – Rabbi Amy Bernstein and her congregation of Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades. 

Please check out the information in this week’s “Temple This Week” email update about ways to help.[3]

In light of these and other ongoing crises in the world at large, we might gain some wisdom by considering the juxtaposition between a passage from this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shemot, and next week’s Torah portion, Parashat Va’era.

In this week’s Torah portion, after Moses receives the revelation at the Burning Bush, he goes on to follow God’s instructions by relaying the message to the Israelites.  In response, at Exodus 4:31, the Torah reports:  

וַֽיַּאֲמֵ֖ן הָעָ֑ם וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֡וּ כִּֽי־פָקַ֨ד ה' אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְכִ֤י רָאָה֙ אֶת־עָנְיָ֔ם וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃

“The people were convinced and when they heard that Adonai had taken note of the Israelites and had seen their plight, they bowed low in homage.”

And we might take that as a lesson that all we need to do is have faith.

But, of course, things did not go so smoothly for our ancestors after that. 

Moses and Aaron go off to confront Pharaoh with their demands, but Pharaoh responds by making the horrible working conditions of the Israelites even worse.  “No more straw for you!, “ he says.  Now go gather the straw for yourselves that you need to fulfill your quota of brickmaking!”  [4]

Perhaps then it should not be a surprise that the next time Moses preaches his message of liberation to his people in next week’s Torah portion, what happens is that, as it says in Exodus 6:9 ---

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר מֹשֶׁ֛ה כֵּ֖ן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֤א שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מִקֹּ֣צֶר ר֔וּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָ֖ה קָשָֽׁה׃

“When Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses because of KOTZER RUACH and hard labor.”

What is this “Kotzer Ruach?”  Those words literally mean “shortness of breathץ” 

Some more idiomatic translations of “kotzer ruach” include expressions such as “crushed spirits”, “distress” or “impatience.”  However we translate the phrase “kotzer ruach,” we surely get the idea.  At first, we’re prepared to believe and have faith and see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

But as the days and weeks and months go by and we’re still stuck in that tunnel and it’s dark and scary and difficult, “kotzer ruach”  --- crushed spirits, distress, impatience – can set in.

The ongoing effects of climate change, like what we’re seeing in California, can do that to you.

The ongoing death and suffering in the Middle East can do that to you.

In this life we have some days filled with hope.  Some days filled with despair.  And the bulk of our days lie somewhere in between.

But just as Moses and Aaron and Miriam and the rest of the Israelites pushed past the feelings of kotzer ruach/ crushed spirits – so must we

and so do we

and so shall we

b’ezrat hashem/with God’s help.

 

Shabbat shalom.

(c) Rabbi David Steinberg (January 2025/ Tevet 5785)

[1] Gen. 32:29

[2] “Benei” בני means “children of ….” and this form of the noun must be followed by the object of the preposition.  The same word on its own (“children”) is “Banim” בנים

[3]  Here’s the text of that announcement that went out to folks on our “Temple This Week” subscriber email list:

“Our former Rabbi, Amy Bernstein, was one of the many people in the Los Angeles area who lost their homes to the fires last week. Not only did her home burn, but her community, Pacific Palisades, was also largely destroyed, with the miraculous exception of her synagogue Kehillat Israel. Many people have asked if we can do something to support her and Eliana. If you would like to contribute to a personal gift on behalf of the Temple Israel Community, please send your donation to the office by January 20th.

There are of course numerous funds to support victims of the fire:

Natural disasters continue to impact many across the Unites States. If you would like to support those continuing to recover from Hurricane Helene: https://templebethel.org/help-our-neighbors-affected-by-hurricane-helene/ “

[4] See Exodus 5: 6-9

Posted on January 21, 2025 by David Steinberg.