The sun is shining admist the rain drops. And the Jerusalem air is brisk and clean.

The sun rose over Jerusalem this morning with a pink hue bouncing off the golden stone buildings.

It is always coming home to Jerusalem.

Exodus 10:1-13:6

This week’s Torah portion is Bo.  The last four plagues descend upon Egypt because of Pharaoh’s obstinacy.  He did not want to see what was before him. That a power greater than himself was demanding that he change his frame of reference. That God was urging him to rethink his identity-that he was human not a god himself.  That God was demanding that Pharaoh look inward and re-order his universe. Sadly, the consequences for Egypt were devastating.  Resulting in death of the first born from the royal class in the palace to the lowest class of slaves says the Torah.  From those who walked about in freedom in Egypt to those who were imprisoned and all first-born animals as well.  The last and final plague brought on Egypt was because Pharaoh was entrenched in his ways. He chose a path that refused to affirm equality and justice and life.

What happens when we are obstinate in our thinking or ways of being in the world?  From the outside looking in we might say God hardened our heart.  But is it just God’s doing? Or do we also have free will? To act in the world?  The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot teaches us that even though all is foreseen, humanity has free will.  God may know the many possible outcomes but does not interfere in our ability to choose.

Our great teacher Rambam, Moses Maimonides contemplated this idea.  In Hilchot TeshuvaA 5:1 (The Laws of Return)

1.  Free will is granted to all.  If one desires to turn to the path of good and be righteous,

the choice is the individual.  Should one desire to turn to the path of evil and be wicked, the choice is the individuals .

We can choose, good or evil, life or death.  But we are urged to choose life and righteousness by the way we live out Jewish values and ideals.

Thus our Torah teaches us to choose life whenever and wherever possible.

Pharaoh through his unwillingness to change, through his inability to see the change in the world around him also does not affirm life.

Our inheritance as a people is that the journey toward freedom, equality and justice is a life-affirming path and this is precisely why the Jew is always concerned with these ideals.  Our exodus from Egypt imprinted the Jewish soul with these concerns and this is why we Jews must be involved in these noble pursuits.

Michael Walzer, in his book Exodus and Revolution (pg 10) wrote:

The Israelites are not, after all, magically transported to the Promised land; they are not carried on the “eagle’s wings” of Exodus 19; they must march to get there, and the march is full of difficulties, crises, struggles, all realistically presented, as if to invite human as well as divine resolution.

The Exodus story that we read this week is a partnership story of God and the Israelites.  The journey towards freedom begins in Parshat Bo as they travel forth.  Perhaps we each need to examine the way in which we dig our own heels in ala Pharaoh, or are we willing to march to a new kind of spiritual freedom and liberation from our enslavements by looking inside and outside to the new possibilities in ourselves and the world. Affirm Life. Let us pray we do so with God’s help!

Her smoky sounds marked a genre.  Enjoy this clip of an truly gifted musician.

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SAME-SEX COUPLES, FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CLERGY TO GATHER ON DAY NINTH CIRCUIT PROP 8 RULING IS RELEASED
Anti-marriage equality proponents have had their day in court, again. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has heard both sides of the issue and is due to announce their decision on the challenge to Proposition 8 any day now. Communities through-out California are prepared to gather to either celebrate or rededicate their resolve to achieve full marriage equality.

A diverse coalition of community organizations has come together to plan the following events statewide – this coalition includes but is not limited to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Marriage Equality USA, GetEQUAL, CA Faith for Equality, the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations, Poz Activists Network, Our Family Coalition and the Gay Straight Alliance:

Los Angeles, CA
    What: Community Rally, then a march down Santa Monica Blvd.
    Where: West Hollywood Park on N. Robertson Blvd. (next to the Abbey Bar)
West Hollywood, CA 90069
    When: 6:00 PM on Day of Decision
    Contact: Tristan Blaine (805) 657-4150

*U.S. Department of Defense Military Casualty Update: January 12 -
January 18, 2012*

Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, USA, 30, of Virginia, died January 10 in Afghanistan

Pfc. Neil I. Turner, USA, 21, of Washington, died January 11 in Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, USA, 34, of Arkansas, died January 15 in
Germany

Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, USMC, 22, of Oklahoma, died January 15 in Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Kenneth E. Cochran, USMC, 20, of Idaho died January 15 in
Afghanistan

Exodus 6:2-9:35

 The plagues descend upon Egypt in this week’s Torah portion Va-eira.  Six of the ten plagues are described. Moses with the help of his brother and spokesman, Aaron confront Pharaoh at the behest of God. Each time Moses makes the request of Pharaoh to let the Israelites go free, Pharaoh stubbornly refuses only to encounter the great power of God who brings each plague upon Egypt.  The Nile River turns to blood. The frogs come leaping forth from the riverbeds. The lice crawl over the land and animals and people. The pestilence strikes the cattle and horses, asses, and camels and sheep.  The soot thrown into the air by Moses and Aaron creates boils in animals and humans.  Fire filled hail came streaking down crushing the fields.  

Moses and Aaron would confront Pharaoh often in the morning to warn him of what would unfold if he didn’t change his mind and let the Israelites go free.  But each time Pharaoh would refuse and dig in his heels even more.

Then following the unfolding of the plague upon the Egyptians (often the Israelites would escape without the consequences) Pharaoh would summons Moses and Aaron to stop the plague.  And Moses and Aaron would appeal to God to cease the plague but the Torah text teaches us then Pharaoh stiffened his heart.  Just when Pharaoh would seemingly be ready to change his mind to let the Israelites go, once the pressure was off, he would back away from the deal.

His constant refusal to see that there was a power greater than he brought tragedy upon his home and upon Egypt.  The plagues were not so much to convince the people of Egypt but to show the power and might of the God of Israel not only to Pharaoh but to the Israelites as well.  The Pharaoh was not only royalty but a God in ancient Egypt.  But these episodes and this display of might helped to put Pharaoh in his place. Because he kept refusing, “stiffening his heart” the conditions around him got worse.

When we are entrenched in our thinking and in our own positions we are like Pharaoh.  We human beings often think things begin and start with us.  But the truth of the Torah is that all things begin with God. This week’s portion is a difficult reminder that there is something greater than us.

It shouldn’t take a plague of frogs or lice to help us acknowledge the spirit of God in our lives.  But sometimes when disaster strikes we need to rely on our faith and hope in a power greater than ourselves.  The challenge is to keep our humility and our ego in check not just in tragic times but in the generous, overflowing times of wealth and well being!  Gratitude is the way we do so reminding ourselves that God should be at the core of our essence.

This is why we Jews recite the Shema prayer. We remind ourselves to listen to God and to connect to the ONE who is Sovereign over all.   If only Pharaoh had heeded the call earlier who knows how the story might have unfolded.

Perhaps we shall finally heed the call as well.

Afterwards dinner at BOHO!

Genesis 41:1-44:17

This week’s Torah Portion Mikketz continues the story of Joseph now in Egypt.  This week Joseph rises from the depth of prison to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream and ends up the Viceroy of all of Egypt!  This is true rocket power! Joseph a foreign slave catapults himself to be the #2 in Egypt.  Joseph correctly explains the Pharaoh’s dream of seven fat cows and seven skinny cows predicting the coming cycle of boom and bust. Joseph of course attributes the message not to Pharaoh’s own power but to God.

“Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is a single one: what God is about to do, God has told to Pharaoh; the seven good cows are seven years and the good ears (of corn) are seven years. Now the seven emaciated and bad cows that emerged after them –they are seven years; as are the seven emaciated ears scorched by the east wind. There shall be seven years of famine. (Gen 41:25-27).

Not only does Joseph interpret the dream but he then presents a plan for preparation for these years. His skills are transformational.  And Pharaoh recognizes this wisdom in Joseph.  Pharaoh takes a risk and names him in charge of this plan to manage the seven good years so that in times of famine Egypt will be prepared.

The Torah teaches us in these passages two profound things.  First faith in God matters.  Joseph’s success and protection came not because of his skills alone. It came because he was aware of his Higher Power.  Joseph acknowledges his truth that God lights his way in the world even above that of the Pharaoh.  This is a radical political statement as well as statement of faith because the Pharaohs of Egypt were seen as gods.  Joseph stands up to power, speaks truth and honesty, and also keeps his faith in God.

The second profound message of this section of Mikketz has to do with disaster preparedness.  One must always be prepared; for good times and for bad times.  It is not if they will happen but when.  If we ignore the warnings and put blinders on we will sacrifice our own lives.  So like a good Girl Scout: Be Prepared.  That means putting something away for a rainy day.

This portion comes as we celebrate Chanukah.  This is a holiday of light that reminds us that God helps us fight our battles against our enemies.  Just as God inspired the faith of the Maccabees, we pray that God inspire us and help us draw near to our faith.

The story of the Maccabees also helps to remind us that we must be prepared.  That we can last and last and last even when we think we have no more to give, this is the analogy of the jar of oil.  But that cruse of oil is re-filled each day from our storehouse of faith and hope.  It’s time to rekindle your faith.  Let the chanukiah help you do so.

As you light your own Chanukiah (a  Chanukah menorah) and recite the brachot-the blessings think about what this first night of light is about for you.  What is the first light?  What light do you bring to the world?

Here are the Chanukah Blessings:

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam she’asah
nisim la’avoteinu bayamim haheim baz’man hazeh.

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam shecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higyanu lazman hazeh.

HAPPY CHANUKAH!

And I have to give kudos to the Gay Men’s Chorus in Los Angeles! I went to their wonderful holiday concert on Sunday afternoon.  It was terrific (as usual). It is always wonderful to see so many of my friends sing their hearts out! And they did a wonderful Chanukah medley this year.  They sang Sivion and Al Hanisim, Mi Yimalel and Maoz Tzur.  All in Hebrew! And they did really well with their pronunciation!   They also did the fun Chanukah song, Chanukah in Santa Monica!  Lots of Chanukah celebrating this year.

The guest star was Melissa Manchester who did four songs! It was a delightful afternoon of holiday songs and a crowd that liked to sing along.

So thank you all for getting me in the Holiday Spirit.