Welcome back! Each week Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City, brings you Torah Thoughts...lessons about the weekly Torah portion. This week we read Parsha Be'halot'cha ("raise up") Numbers 8 - 12. Aaron is commanded to raise up the light of the menorah and the tribe of Levi is initiated into the service of the sanctuary.
In this portion we also read about the first Pesach (Passover) is celebrated since leaving Egypt. The Almighty instructs the Jewish people to journey into the desert whenever the ever-present cloud lifts from above the Tabernacle and to camp where it rests. Moses is instructed to make two silver trumpets to be sounded before battle or to proclaim a Yom Tov (a holiday).
But...oh the complaining. We read in this portion that the people complained and questioned Moses and why they were wandering. The story of the mannah is most interesting. G-d had promised everything to the people and for food it was mannah....something that dropped from the sky each evening and it tasted exactly like whatever the people wanted it to taste like. "So, you want steak tonight? Here is your mannah!" Or, "You want trout for lunch? OK, here is your mannah!"
You get the idea.
But, the people complained that the mannah didn't taste like garlic or onions or...cucumbers. Things they remembered from Egypt.
Think of that for a moment. G-d grants you whatever you want to eat and you want cucumbers!
Several years ago our granddaughter came to live with us. Living in a kosher home was new to her. One night we made "chicken tenders" and when served she said she wanted ranch dressing. Trouble is ranch dressing is made with milk and ya can't have that with meat. We told her that she could have bbq sauce, catsup, mustard any number of condiments but, no ranch.
She was not happy and she complained. But, it turned into a great teachable moment.
I get it with kids who may not understand but, Jews who see, each day, the miracles G-d brings them and they still complain?
The lesson is that we can't ALWAYS have exactly what we want. There are limits to everything and when those limits are realized and when those limits are seen as a glorification of G-d because He has set them. We are truly blessed.
Service Schedule
This Friday evening, 21 June, at 7:15pm and our Torah Study (Midrash) will take place on Shabbat (Saturday) starting at 10:00am. Everyone is welcome.
See you in Shul!
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