Divrei Torah

There are times that we mess up in life, and then there are times that colossal mistakes are made. One could easily argue that one of the greatest of the colossal mistakes that we as a Jewish people ever committed was in this week’s Parsha, when the Jewish People fashioned the golden calf. Following this tragic occurrence, Hashem told Moshe that the Nation was to be destroyed entirely and begun anew from him. Moshe prayed to Hashem to have mercy and compassion, and we as a Nation were spared. One of the reasons that we are all alive today is because Moshe used the perfect argument and prayers at the perfect time. It is incumbent upon us all to appreciate and study these words, take the lessons that are within, and incorporate them into our own lives.

In a fascinating Midrash, Rabbi Levi points out that Moshe evoked the promise that Hashem had made previously to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, as the verse says:

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom you did swear, and said unto them: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.”

He explains that Moshe asked Hashem, Are the dead really alive? Will they not come back from the dead? Hashem responded to the question by asking whether Moshe had become a heretic who denies that the resurrection of the dead will occur at the end of days. At this point, Moshe asked Hashem how it is possible, then, that Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov will be resurrected and the promise that their children will become great and populous will never have occurred!

This argument was so potent and powerful that Hashem allowed the Jewish People to continue despite their terrible sin. This statement is one that often rings true in my own mind. Presenting an image or perception, and living up to our own words and actions is a challenge that we all struggle with at times. However, at the end of the day, we are our own best enforcers.

Since I have become affiliated with the DAT Minyan and the Denver Academy of Torah, I have heard from so many people about the unique and wonderful relationship that is shared between the two institutions. I personally benefit from working closely with the school and seeing the wonderful and devoted administrators and teachers who enrich our children and our community. My personal sentiments have been echoed by many families and individuals who also recognize the important role that the school plays in the thriving environment in which we find ourselves. These sentiments carry tremendous weight, as they are more than words. They are statements which we must live up to. If something is of value to us, we must support it when it calls.

The Shul is having its Annual Event in a few weeks, and we must all show our support. It is time for all of us who benefit from the DAT Minyan to show that the benefit is something we are committed to maintain and help flourish. To reserve your space at the Event, go to www.datminyan.org/annualevent. Thank you for supporting our work at this critical juncture in our Shul’s history.