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Introduction
In the Book of Numbers, the enslaved Israelites encounter a sudden change of fortune when they leave Egypt and are led by Moses into the desert and into freedom. So begins the journey of the Exodus: with Moses’ leadership, the people witness their first honest-to-God miracle, the parting of the Red Sea.
But soon after they celebrate their safety, doubts and fears set in. Even miracles no longer provide the sense of wonder and community for a people so recently released from physical bondage. It doesn’t take long for the people’s confidence to falter as the Israelites yearn for their old familiar lives. Release from slavery doesn’t feel free without the compass of meaning or purpose.
Further, free does not mean easy; they continue to face adversity and hardship. Under guidance of God and the leadership of Moses, the elders build the Tabernacle, establish tribal leaders, justices, and rule of law. No longer a sea of people, the Israelites begin to form authentic community and a Jewish identity. The search for meaning and purpose finally become clear in the witness of Torah at Sinai.
In the present day, we still search for freedom from hidden and not-so-hidden obstacles in our lives, as we too find that the initial energy of resolve can quickly devolve into a struggle without end in sight.
As we begin again the journey from Pesach to Shavuot, let’s embark on our own guided journey with meditations of freedom, the challenges and introspection of the wilderness, and readiness to accept Torah with a new purpose. It creates a meaningful pattern of self-fulfillment.
--Lily Rothbart
Edited and compiled for Temple Israel, Minneapolis, MN for the Omer 2024/5784.
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