שבת  פרשת שמות

SHABBAT PARSHAT SHEMOT

Development Associate

Tanach

This week we begin the book of Shemot, Exodus . Ramban, in his introduction to this book, establishes the overarching theme of this book as "galut v'geulah," exile and redemption . Though the beginning of the book describing the enslavement of the Jews in Egypt leading to their ultimate salvation certainly supports this claim, what about the rest of the book? The giving of the Torah, an explanation of several Torah laws, the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle ? How does this all fit into the Exodus theme?

Rav Alex Israel, a well-known teacher and scholar in many Israeli educational institutions, presents a powerful insight to help us answer this question. He quotes a 1960s article by philosopher Isaiah Berlin that notes there are two kinds of liberty: negative and positive. Negative liberty occurs when one encounters no outside limits or restrictions to one's free actions. There is no one imposing a direction, a purpose, or a plan. Positive liberty, on the other hand, is the possibility of acting in control of one's life, making deliberate decisions, and realizing one's fundamental purposes.

Sefer Shemot, says Rav Alex, is not just about physical freedom, or negative liberty. It is about living with positive liberty. Ramban's assertion that Shemot includes galut v'geulah means that we celebrate not just our freedom from slavery, but our redemption and growth as a nation with a purpose to serve Hashem and to actualize His will, expressed through our commitment to Torah as accepted at Mt. Sinai and the construction of spaces for Hashem's presence to dwell within our midst. We have a positive mandate to use our freedom for a sacred purpose and to live a meaningful existence.

As we enter this period of a new semester and a new half of the year, may we be able to internalize this message of living our lives with purpose, with a commitment to make healthy and safe decisions for ourselves, with a renewed energy to help others, and with the knowledge that Hashem's ultimate redemption comes ever closer when we are successful in this mission.

Shabbat Shalom!

On Monday, January 16 all faculty and students gathered in the Be it Midrash for a special program planned by  Mr. Barry Kirzner, History Department Chair to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

 

The program opened with Head of School Rabbi Dr. Gil Perl speaking on the parallels between the history of the Jewish people and the history of the African American community, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding.

 

Mr. Kirzner than sat down for a conversation with Retired Philadelphia Patrol Officer, Mr. Russell Long, one of the Security Officers for Kohelet Yeshiva High School. Officer Long described his childhood growing up in a North Philadelphia neighborhood with his mother, an armed security officer in a liquor store, as his inspiration. He entered the police academy in 1994 and served for 18 years on the streets of Philadelphia. He found himself in many different situations, and was completely committed to helping maintain safety and peace in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia.  As an African American  police officer,  Officer  Long looked up to Martin Luther King Jr., and was greatly influenced by his views on justice and equality for all.