Miryam's Space

In Exodus chapter 24, Moshe, Aaron, Nadav and Avihu as well as 70 elders Ascend and SEE G8D! Just what led up to this?

Many laws and rules, of Mishpatim, including the first time that we are commanded (out of 36 times according to Rashi) not to oppress the ger, the immigrant. Sources here This command not to harm is repeated in this week’s reading, eventually evolving into the repeated command to love the immigrant. No other love is commanded twice by G8d! The term “ger”, has been variously translated. It means the one who does not come from the land, not native, ie. an immigrant. (Rabbi Shai Held)

Why and How: Why does G8d command love, and How can we cultivate love? The answer to the first question is given in the text: because we were immigrants, and we were oppressed. The command repeated more often than any other mitzvah is what is the take-away from our experiences of oppression. “Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” says the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, and “The only thing stronger than hate is love” was flashed on the Superbowl halftime screen. Not an easy pathway. We know the “soul” the feeling of being the oppressed outsider, with no-one to defend ourselves against the powers that be. Perhaps you, like I, knew that feeling at public school (beautifully shown in the animated film Inside Out) The Jewish people have been refugees for a couple of thousand years. Forced to flee the home that we could not abide due to oppression, hatred, taxed into abject poverty, rounded up into concentration camps, we fled. We have had reason to be angry and insular “What do you do with the mad that you feel,… when the whole wide world seems oh so wrong and nothing you do seems very right?” asks Mr. Rogers. The enslaved could turn to oppressors. It is easy to fall -as abused children grow into abusers and pit bulls into monsters. This is why the command not to oppress is repeated so often.

But what of the second question: how can you cultivate love? A pathway has been placed within the same Torah reading: to do loving deeds, and then we will be able to hear G8d’s voice. First, a little background as to where we are in the Torah saga. Two weeks ago in Exodus we were redeemed at the Sea of Reeds against all odds. Three months later, we stood at Mount Sinai and received the first Ten offerings from the Voice of the Holy One. Unable to withstand the intensity of Revelation, The people ask Moses to go up alone to get the rest of G8d’s instructions. Now we get a whole bunch of criminal and civil laws, including the first two instances of not oppressing the immigrant. At the end of this week’s reading, Exodus:24 Moses and Aaron and 70 elders will ascend the mountain part way and bow from afar. Moses arranges sacrifices to represent a covenant, and reads the laws of the covenant to the people. The people respond in a that has sparked much commentary through the ages: All that G8d has spoken, we will do and we will hear. (Exodus 24:8) Such faith did they show, that the “doing” would precede the hearing. This is the answer that the text provides: Love first, and we will be able to hear everything better: we will understand “being in someone else’s shoes” we will gain empathy AND we will be able to more deeply experience a spiritual life. Proof-text for this is Exodus where Moshe (Moses) Aharon (Aaron), Aharon’s sons and 70 elders SEE the Blessed Holy one (Exodus 24:10). First love, see the divine in the immigrant’s face, then more love will follow. And perhaps when we climb our own life’s mountains, we can even glimpse the Divine Presence.

An original song, dedicated to 5 year old Liam Conejo Ramos, Age 5, forced to lead agents to his family’s door

LOVE THE IMMIGRANT Miryam Wolfson

A little boy cries in the icy night

Though they hear him no one comes to hold him tight

No one makes it right, or reunites

The world seems too big and too cold

Without Papa beside him to hold  

Love the immigrant, they are not below you

Love the immigrant, you know their soul

Hear their cries and know

You can be part of the healing, 

To make things whole

Naaseh v’nishma, We will help and then truly hear

When we comfort and dry the tears 

It can open the way

To be free, to live in dignity

Naaseh v’nishma,  

Let us open our hearts and our minds

Cause there will always be mountains to climb

We can truly be there, 

even gather a glimpse of Divine

Love the immigrant, they are not below you

Love the immigrant, we know their soul

Hear their cries and know

we  must be part of the healing, 

make ourselves whole

You already know how it goes don’t you remember,

We were refugees enslaved by tyranny

You’ve heard this song before

You’ve been so far from safety, from home

You know what it’s like

To be an outcast,scared and alone.