Rabbi's Blog

When a man gets called up to the Torah it is called an ‘aliyah’, meaning going up. In many Shuls and synagogues the Bimah is raised and a person literally ‘goes up’ to read from the Torah, and when they finish they go back down. Getting an aliyah is much more than just saying the blessings and perhaps making a donation of some sort. Rather, the ultimate goal and purpose is for the individual to ‘go up’, to  have a ‘spiritual experience’ that will continue to be with the person for as long as possible.  Perhaps there is a correlation between the attitude and the intent the person has when receiving the aliyah to the time it takes to wear off. 

As I fly back from Eretz Yisrael, I can relate what I wrote above to a trip to Israel and not necessarily making “aliyah” as we generally know it today. In today’s lexicon making aliyah means to permanently move to Eretz Yisrael. Nevertheless, I believe each and every time a person goes to Israel he gets an ‘aliyah’. Unfortunately he has to come back down to Chutz LaAretz (outside of Israel). Hopefully, we take that spiritual and physical infusion of Israel with us which will  keep us going in the non-spiritual lands of the diaspora.

It is difficult to capture every moment of my recent trip to Eretz Yisrael, because my family and I try to make each and every moment an ‘aliyah moment”. From the time we land and receive a welcome in Lashon HaKodesh/Hebrew to the time we are preparing to leave, saying the word “L’Hitraot” (until the next time), there isn’t a moment that is not injected with the greatness of Israel and the Jewish people. Sure, Israel is approaching its seventieth birthday, but in many ways it is approaching seventy years young. To say the least, Israel is a flourishing country, sitting among its unfriendly neighbors who are filled with strife, deprived of human rights, enveloped by war, civil war, devoid of  a bright future. Despite the diversity of its own people, not limiting it to Jews alone, but to Christians, Muslims, and people from all around the world, Israeli society is thriving in spite of its great challenges. The food in Israel today is not only abundant;  the quality and variety rates it among the leading countries of the world. I personally received an ‘aliyah’ when visiting the ancient sites and historical mountains, valleys, and roads that our forefathers passed through. That ‘aliyah’ is mirrored to the modern forefathers of our country, who, only a few decades ago, blazed the path to independence with sweat, blood, and tears so that today we can enjoy  eating out, jeeping in the Judean mountains, walking through the old city of Yerushalayim, davening at the Kotel, and visiting a modern, historic museum. The ‘aliyah’ these experiences gave me will hopefully keep me charged with the enthusiasm of building Judaism in San Diego as if I were in Israel at the time I was receiving the aliyah itself.

This week’s Parshas B’Shalach marks the anniversary of the first Aliyah the Jewish people made as a nation. Leaving Mitzrayim, or to be correct, being sent out of Egypt by Pharoah, was the first stage in the process for Bnei Yisrael towards going up to the land of Canaan. If we track the life of Moshe Rabbeinu, we can view it from a point of ascension. Even though Moshe was not able to make aliyah in the conventional manner as we know it today, he nevertheless led a complete life of aliyah. Even though Moshe never abused his power and rank over anyone else, God did it for him. There is a subtle nuance that reflects Moshe growing above and beyond the people and even over his sister and brother. In Shmos 15:20 the Torah states: “VaTikach Miriam HaNevia Achos Aharon Es HaTof B’Yadah, VaTeitzena Kal HaNashim Achareha B’Supim UVimcholos”. “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances”. Many commentaries ask; why is Aharon’s name mentioned as the brother to Miriam and not to Moshe? Rashi gives two explanations: the second one is that Aharon gave of himself when Miriam was in distress during her time of leprosy. Another interpretation is given by the author of the Midrash HaNelam which explains that up until the time of the splitting of the Sea of Reeds Moshe, Aharon and Miriam were of equal prophetic status in the eyes of the Jewish people. Now that the Jews witnessed the splitting of the sea by Moshe, they recognized and understood his greatness over Aharon and Miriam. They understood the level Moshe reached was higher than that of his siblings. The levels of prophecy were two distinct levels, one much higher than the other. Moshe at this point was called “Eved Hashem” a servant of God, a title that is unmatched and far superior to his brother and sister. Now that Moshe’s level of Nevua, prophecy, climbed higher, Aharon and Miriam were left on the same degree of prophecy. Therefore, when the verse mentions Miriam as a prophetess, the Torah includes Aharon only because it was only he on that same level as Miriam, whereas Moshe was on a much higher level.

Moshe, with his title Rabbeinu, ‘our teacher’, always has a lesson for us. In this section of the Torah, Hashem uses language which clearly tells us not to criticize and put down the level of prophecy that Miriam and Aharon share.  Just putting them together and leaving out Moshe gives us a hint that Moshe is no longer on the same level as his sister and brother. The juxtaposition, which comes immediately after the splitting of the Yam Suf, indicates that Moshe was catapulted to new heights. One of the many areas to learn and adapt from Moshe Rabbeinu is the notion of working to grow and aspire to ever greater heights.

We should never remain stagnant in life,  particularly in religious observance and growing as a Jew. Growing, continuously increasing our knowledge and commitment,  is critical for the survival and flourishment  of Am Yisrael. Each and every day of our lives should include a moment in which we feel we did something to experience an aliyah. Living life with the conscious intention to grow will make us stronger as individuals, which, in turn, will strengthen the Jewish people as a whole. Hopefully, if we all experience a personal and spiritual aliyah, we will all be spurned to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael. i Just as our forefathers made aliyah by leaving Mitzrayim and ultimately entering Eretz Canaan, so, too, may we journey from Chutz LaAretz in order to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael. Let Hashem give us strength! Chazak Chazak V’Nischazeik!

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky