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Parshas B'Shalach - You Cannot Lead Where You Do Not Go          9 Shvat 5778

01/25/2018 11:38:49 AM

Jan25

This Dvar Torah is L'Ilui Nishmas in memory of Esther Rochel Bas Nachum, Rose Bogopulsky A"H, on her Yahrzeit 11th of Shvat

One need not look far for inspiration; sometimes it’s right there in front of us. There are some amazing people whom we see every day, but take a moment to just think how amazing they are. We think we need to hear great stories and share incredible moments to be inspired by people and the things they do. Take the time to look around. You man notice a neighbor, a co-worker, or a relative who has done something awesome - and they do it every day. A short example is being so impressed, so awe struck when someone donates a kidney. Lo and behold I have a cousin whose own son gave him a kidney. One might say, “Oh, for a relative this isn’t so impressive; who wouldn’t do that?” Well, let me tell you, from my perspective it’s a very big deal.

Closer to home, I have come to not only respect but rather be impressed by a man who lives in the Shul apartments. Mr. Timothy King, who prefers to be called Tim, is African American (I obtained his permission to write about him) and has been living here for about three years. Whenever I see him, I say hello and we chat for a few minutes, usually about the current sports of the day. Unfortunately, he still smokes and needs to light up off Shul grounds, so I usually catch him in the parking lot either on the way towards the gate or back to his apartment. One day, he was struggling up a tiny incline in the parking lot. I immediately went over and asked him if he needed some help. “No, no,” he said, “I’m o.k. I just need to get a little exercise.” You see, Tim was born with some deformities: no legs, one healthy arm, and the other only a stump. I always see him in his motorized wheelchair, but that day he was using an ordinary wheelchair. He was wheeling and pushing himself with his one healthy arm, but it was a gruesome struggle. I asked him if he needed help being pushed, and if something had happened to his motorized chair. He answered in the negative to both questions. His motorized chair was working, and he did not need help (although he appreciated the offer) because this is the way he is able to exercise. Being very limited in his capacity to exercise, wheeling himself gets his heart pumping and his blood flowing. He needed to push, and it was not easy for him, nor was it easy for me to watch. The sheer determination and resolve to do it on his own was humbling. There is no question the strength of character and mind is what gives him the will to literally push forward. He is always on the move and is driven by his purpose. Tim knows the only way for him to survive is to continue to work hard, to push forward and not allow anything stop him from living.

The challenges, walls, and barriers that Hashem places in front of people are the daily tests we must face and go through in life. The success or failure, more often than not, lies in our determination and resolve to push on and tackle the encounters as they come. This is clearly seen in the Torah as the Jewish people, finally set free by Pharoah, look behind them and see Pharoah’s army chasing them. Staring in front of them is the Sea of Reeds. With no place to go, the Jews question Moshe by saying, “Weren’t there enough graves in Egypt? Why did we need to come here to die? Moshe replies, stating usual, “Don’t worry. God will rescue you today.” And so what did they do? Read on…..

In this week’s Parshas B’Shalach The Torah states in Shmos 14:15: “Vayomer Hashem El Moshe Mah Titzok Eilay, Dabeir El Bnei Yirael V’Yisaoo”. God said to Moshe,”Why are you crying out to Me? Speak to the Israelites and let them start moving.” Apparently, as Moshe lifted his staff in order to split the sea, all the people froze in place except Nachshon Ben Aminadav. The time was now. Already in the water up to his neck at that split second when Moshe was getting ready to split the sea, Nachshon Ben Aminadav continued to move forward as the sea split. What was it that actually made the Yam Suf split? Was it Moshe and his staff or Nachshon’s determination, Emunah, and Bitachon in Hashem that something will happen, allowing him and the people to follow to safety? The Gemorah Sotah 37a tells us that each tribe was unwilling to enter the water first. One tribe said, “I will not be the first to descend into the sea,” while another tribe declared, “I will not be the first to descend.” At that point Nachshon, son of Aminadav, the prince of the tribe of Yehuda, leaped forward, descending first into the sea. The Midrash Rabbah in Bamidbar 13:7 explains, ‘Why was he called Nachshon, because he was the first to go down into the surf (in Hebrew Nachshol) of the Red Sea. Therefore, God told Moshe, “He who sanctified My Name in the sea will be the first to bring his offering in the dedication of the altar.’”

At that precise moment Moshe was praying at length. Hashem then said to Moshe, “My dear ones are drowning in the sea while you linger in prayer with me?” Moshe said before God: “Master of the Universe, but what is it in my power to do?” God responded: “Speak to the children of Israel and let them journey forth.” Reviewing this story, we can ask ourselves: was it the fact that Moshe prayed and lifted up his staff that split the sea, or did it split because the Jews walked through and caused the sea to split? The answer is, it was Nachshon’s initiative to start the process and force Moshe’s hand to daven to Hashem and get the people behind to go in as well. Nachshon was able to lead because he dared to go into a place where men don’t usually go. What was it that gave Nachshon the fortitude to do what he did? It was his Emuna and Bitachon the faith and security in the Almighty that this is the path he must lead on.

It is easy to say I have Emunah (faith) and Bitachon (trust), but it is something totally different to live and act with complete Emunah and Bitachon, especially when the pressure is on. Having Emunah and Bitachon isn’t something we are just born with; it develops over time by learning and reading about it, by listening to and reading stories of great people who live and breathe entirely through faith and security from God. By doing so we will strengthen ourselves, providing us with the fortitude to take the lead and go places that otherwise we would never go. Let us all learn from Nachshon ben Aminadav and Tim King to take a leading role for the Jewish community and push forward in the continued success of building Beth Jacob Congregation and ultimately the House of Yakov Avinu.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784