Rebbe Nachman taught that we are all on a

 

  Lifelong journey with ups and downs -

and that The Almighty makes us resilient -

  to learn to get up from the pitfalls of life

 

This portion is filled with pitfalls - and PULLUPS!  

Directions for Exercises for the SOUL!

 

There are so many but let's look at a few...

  

The Torah in the ark in our Synagogues

  represents the ark in the Tabernacle in the desert.

  

When the Israelites travelled Moses sang 

(like WE do when we take out the Torah to read...)

 

But the Portion does not say Moses prayed

  "Defeat our enemies"

  But he sang

"  Scatter your enemies" -

Please teach us also to know how

to Make them disappear - don't make us fight them (unless we sometimes HAVE to).

  

Rebbe Shlomo Carlebach always taught that our lifelong journey is 

both to the insides of the insides of us

 and also to  outside and around us - to see what we really need

 

Like in the Portion Moshe Rabaynu recognizes that the people need

 

help in the desert - which he asks from his Father-in-Law Yitro

 

and more spiritual prophetic leaders - like Hashem sends 

in the form of 70 elders ...

 

Inside us - we need to cleanse and Strive for Holiness

like the pallbearers who could not enjoy the Passover Seder

'There were Tamed men ... carrying the shevatim ....brothers of Joseph"

 

Who were Given 30 days to get past their ritual impurity

 

AND Miriam who was given 7 days to get back on course to holiness

after saying uncomplimentary things ...

  

ALL these lessons the Almighty gives us in this portion and more

 

A blueprint

 

And we must help each other follow it to Holiness

 

Shabbat Shalom

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz