17 Mar Dealing With the Coronavirus Epidemic
Dear friends,
It’s hard to even
remember how we
got here; it’s been a whirlwind.
But here we are!
Most of us are in a state of confusion.
The more we know, the
less we seem to understand. My
thoughts are like yours: everywhere!
But while the chaos and
anxiety are no doubt great, the
opportunities that we have before
us are even greater.
Please allow me to explain by
way of a well know Midrash
from last week’s parsha. /המערה
קרני/ ההוד רבותינו אומרים מן
מהיכן נטל/ משה-
The Midrash asks a fairly simple
question: From where did
Moshe merit those rays of light
that we have all come to know
so well? What gave him the radiance
post Mt. Sinai?
While there are
3 answers in the
Midrash, let’s
focus on the 1st
one. The Rabbis
say: ‘it was
from the cave”.
Of course, there
is no literal cave
here in this story.
Rather, it was
the ‘virtual cave’.
When Moshe
asks quite poignantly
to see Gd’s
glory, the response is unique.
G-d gives Moshe a private space.
A space where can access some
of what he is longing for. In that
space, for that small amount
of time alone with G-d, Moshe
earned a special gift. It was the
gift of being radiant and glowing
from G-d’s presence.
Think about it. Moshe did many
amazing and miraculous things.
He brought the 10 plagues, split
the sea and led the Jewish nation
out of Egypt in between.
Yet, none of that earned Moshe
any special rays of light. However,
one short encounter with
the Creator in that especially
set aside place and time, earned
Moshe is קרני הוד ; his radiant
beams of light.
There is something so relevant
and powerful about this notion.
It is not from being out
and about, running and conquering
accomplishment after
accomplishment that we
earn the greatest amount of
radiance and reflectiveness
of G-d. Rather, we earn that
glow from the cave. We gain
it from the small times and
spaces in which we set aside
special time to bond with and
gain from the Almighty. It is
in those places where we have
the potential to gain the most
and give off the most light.
I believe the same can be said
for our current situation. Yes
indeed, so many of us are
used and thrive on the daily
minyanim, shiurim, chaburot,
chavrutot and chessed activities.
We gain so much are
able to give so much. But just
think for a moment what we
can accomplish in the ‘cave’.
At home, in our own ‘caves,’
we will:
Not able to be in shul and
daven with a minyan; But
will have much more time to
focus and daven slower, connecting
to Hashem and having
in mind those who
need our prayers.
Not be able to attend
shiurim; But can take
much more advantage
of so many Shiurim
on the internet, reading
books and learning
seforim that we never
get to.
Not be able to run and
help others outside;
But can give extra focus
to helping one another
inside and from
inside. We can text, call and
reach out to people to see how
they are feeling or if they may
be lonely and offer any help to
neighbors and friends who may
need us, or resources we have.
Not be able to see our friends
and socialize after shul; But we
can ‘work’ on our relationships
at home and spend meaningful
time with our families.
While if given the choice, I am
certain that most of us would
vote to jolt from our caves. but
bottom line: we are here! Let’s
make the most of our time here.
The chaos and anxiety are
great, but the opportunities
are greater.
In the merit of our accomplishments
in the ‘cave’ this Shabbos
and weekend, wishing all those
in our community, klal Yisrael
and all over the world a complete
recovery. May we emerge
iy”h in good health, with greater
sensitivity towards one another,
greater focus in prayer, greater
Torah knowledge, better appreciation
for the gifts we have and
(most importantly) with radiant
קרני הוד , beams of light, to
give to one another and display
proudly as an אור לגויים , a light
unto the nations, for the world
around us.
Wishing you all a healthy,
peaceful, meaningful and uplifting
Shabbos in your ‘caves’!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh Goller