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Parshat Vaera: January 23, 2025

Dear TBZ Community,

What a week it has been! My heart has been overwhelmed with joy since Sunday’s return of the three hostages: Romi Gonen, Emily Demari, and Doron Steinbracher. Witnessing their embraces with their mothers, their joy and resilience, and their smiles—these were profoundly moving moments. Hearing that Sunday night marked the first quiet night in Gaza, allowing citizens to slowly return to their homes and consider the possibility of rebuilding, also brought me comfort. Yet, alongside this joy lies so much pain, anger, and fear. Will this fragile ceasefire hold? Will all the hostages return home? Can we imagine the possibility of healing and a long-term solution for Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side? The road ahead is long, but for now we celebrate Romi, Emily, and Doron and their families.

We have also entered a new era in our country, with a new administration taking office amid overwhelming anger and fear. Many of us feel a profound sense of despair. So, how do we walk this path? How do we hold all of this? What are we called to do during this time?

In this week’s Torah portion, Vaera, God speaks through Moshe (Moses) to tell the Israelites that they will be liberated from slavery. Interestingly, the Torah notes that the Israelites could not listen to Moshe; they were not ready:

וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה כֵּן אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה מִקֹּצֶר רוּחַ וּמֵעֲבֹדָה קָשָׁה  

But when Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses, their spirits crushed by cruel bondage (Exodus 6:9).

Chizkuni, the 13th century French commentator, explains that the Israelites were too afraid to accept what Moses said, as their conditions had worsened due to Pharaoh’s reaction to Moses’ intervention. Pharaoh had made them forget their dreams of freedom by burdening them with even more labor.

There is a powerful message in this teaching. The people of Israel struggled to believe that liberation was possible; their oppression was too heavy. They needed convincing. As I reflect on this, I ask myself how we can ensure that we don’t forget our dreams of freedom, equality, possibility, and trust in humanity when the world around us often tells a different story.

Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington, delivered a poignant and courageous sermon on Tuesday as part of the inauguration festivities, appealing to President Trump to have mercy—mercy for those most in need, mercy for those who fear. She urged him:

Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you and, as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants; who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They…may not be citizens or have the proper documentation. But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurudwaras, and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land. May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love and walk humbly with each other and our God for the good of all people. Good of all people in this nation and the world. Amen”

The full sermon, delivered at the Washington National Cathedral, can be viewed here

For a moment, I hoped her words would touch the President. That hope was shattered quickly by his response demanding an apology from her.

This week’s Torah portion also tells us that Pharaoh’s heart stiffened, and he could not listen to Moshe and Aaron:

וַיֶּחֱזַק לֵב פַּרְעֹה וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵהֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה  

Yet Pharaoh’s heart stiffened and he did not heed them, as Adonai had said (Exodus 7:13).

The commentator Bekhor Shor explains that Pharaoh did not hear them because they could not touch his heart. He was unmoved by the call for mercy.

ולא שמע אליהם. כי עדיין לא נגע אל לבו.

Pharaoh didn’t hear, didn’t listen, because they could not touch his heart. They could not move him. 

Perhaps the Reverend’s plea can’t be heard and, instead, we can choose to have mercy and compassion for one another and for ourselves. We must not let our dreams of what is possible make us numb, cynical, or passive. We need to believe and trust that human beings can do better, that liberation is possible, and that caring for those in need—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger— and recognizing that all human beings are created in God’s image, is our sacred duty. This is the truth we hold that keeps us moving forward together. We cannot give up. If the Israelites had not heard Moshe and believed, they would never have left Egypt.

We pray for mercy, and we act with mercy.

May this Shabbat bring us peace, strength, and clarity. May we find the courage to forgive, heal, and move forward together, knowing that we do not walk this journey alone. 

May God grant blessing and comfort to all of us and our loved ones. May we discover strength, courage, and patience, and open our hearts generously. May those who are ill find healing.

May all the hostages soon return to their families and friends; may peace prevail, and may our leaders prioritize life. May those working for peace be granted strength and courage to continue their sacred work, and may we soon witness peace and dignity for all.

 

Shabbat Shalom,  

Rav Claudia