Dear JCOGS family,
In this week’s Torah portion/parashat Chukat, we confront loss over and over again, where Torah mirrors the experience of life and the inevitability of death.
The loss centres around the siblings Miriam, Moses, and Aaron. Miriam the Prophetess dies at the outset of this Torah portion.
The loss of one of our great sages. Miriam is the Israelites’ miraculous bearer of water, so there is no water for the people when she passes away.
The loss of their life source and basic needs. The Israelites cry out for help, and Moses strikes the rock to bring forth water. But in so doing, betraying G-d’s command, Moses himself loses the right to take the people into the Promised Land.
The loss of our central leader’s mission. Later, the High Priest Aaron dies and is buried and the people mourn his death for 30 days.
The loss of holy authority.We also learn in depth how touching a dead person’s body or even being in the same room as them makes someone ritually impure for seven days.
The loss of loved ones and of connection to community.Finally, we learn of war against neighbouring armies and the loss of life there, as our ancestors were victorious in these fights against great nations, yet too much blood was spilled.
The great losses on the battlefield.I’ve recently begun reading a book recommended by one of our members,
The Beauty of What Remains by Rabbi Steve Leder, which I hope to bring to JCOGS as a community reading. In it, the author writes: “Yes, death is sad, serious, and heavy. But life is not always thus. Death is an opportunity to reaffirm the blessing of life.”
While Torah touches on stories of death and loss, Torah is always about life. Death and loss are ultimately reminders of what we wish to affirm. About what we are to do with this one precious life we have been given. About the beauty that remains here and now.
After these two plus years of great loss and burden on our community and our world, after perpetual losses seen and felt in these tumultuous times, we must affirm life in spite of it all.
I hope you will join me for
this Sunday’s BBQ, as well as the launch of the
Stowe Jewish Film Festival this Wednesday, as our JCOGS community creates opportunities for each of us to embrace life.
Tihiyu bri’im, be well. Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David
