Shabbat Shalom! This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Vayelech.
Moses says to the people of Israel, “Be Strong and Resolute,” and then he says
to Joshua in front of the rest of the people, “Be Strong and Resolute.” God
later speaks directly to Joshua, something that doesn’t happen often the way it
does with Moses, and also tells Joshua to be strong and resolute. The winds of
change are blowing, there are hard times ahead, and though God will be with
them, the people of Israel are going to have to face the future for themselves and
Joshua will be responsible for their welfare. God can be a source of strength,
but ultimately, it is up to the people to be prepared and it is up to Joshua to
ensure that the people have what they need to be prepared.
Responding to the news about
Hurricane Florence, many people prepared for the worst. Some areas evacuated,
while others simply made sure to stock up on water and charge all their devices
and external batteries. Officials in areas predicted to be affected have all
declared a state of emergency. School events preemptively cancelled. FEMA worked
closed with the officials in each state to ensure that relief will be
distributed efficiently to those in need after the storm. Meanwhile, news
reports tell of those in shelters praying together, while undoubtedly many
others at home praying on their own or in their communities for safety through
the storm. Now it looks like the storm will mostly miss us, and the worst of it
remains to be seen for the Carolina Coast, but we can be sure that everyone
will have been safer for the warnings and precautions.
It was important for individuals to
do what they could to prepare. It was important for state officials and FEMA to
be supportive and take initiative to inform folks what they should do to
prepare. Even if God were to respond to the prayers of all and no one were
endangered in the course of this storm, we see in this week’s parasha that God
entrusts the leaders of the people to take care of their immediate needs and
expects the people to take some self-responsibility as well. Only when everyone
does their due diligence, from the Highest on High, to the mortal chiefs, to
the individuals facing the brunt of the matter, can people and communities be
safe.
Now, the Haftarah for this week
contains verses from three different prophets and connects more with the themes
of this being Shabbat Shuvah than with particular lines from the Torah portion.
One line specifically mentions our sins being hurled into the depths of the
sea, clearly something medieval Jews drew upon as they created the Tashlich
ritual. But it also made me think of how often after a disaster, natural or
human created, people come together. They set aside their differences, their
sinful arrogance and baseless hatred and selfishness, and people donate and
volunteer in droves. Our sins hurled out into the sea, carried away in the
winds, and cleansed souls ready to all do their part to return communities to
their pre-disaster states. Teshuvah in its truest sense.
May this first Shabbat of 5779 be a
time where all take stock of their own responsibilities to take care of their
needs and the needs of their communities, that we may all stay safe and healthy
through this hurricane season and beyond. Amen and Shabbat Shalom.
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