Lake Chapala Jewish Congregation
And Moses let down his guard as he spoke
To his people in his own voice:
I feel your frustration and I must tell you I too
I have experienced that feeling,
For I have wanted badly to join the young generation
In Canaan.
I wanted the Lord to rescind his decree and allow me
To pass with you.
He not only said no, but ordered me never
To discuss the subject with him again.
You know, there are times I feel desperate
About this still,
But then I remember how wondrous
Our one God is.
We may enjoy all the elements and nature around us,
But we need pray only to him in thanks
Through discipline we can jettison our polytheistic
Past and focus on our becoming
A special and unique people
Who loves and serves this one deity,
By following laws that will allow us
To survive from generation to generation.
How marvelous it is that these rules and commandments
Will outlive me and my siblings.
Recognize that I want only the best for you.
The leaving of Egypt will only matter
If we can choose the path
That allows us to prosper and
Experience a profound contentment.
I want you to choose this life
Instead of chasing after trash
And doing nothing but complain
To a God you will obey
Only if that God satisfies your selfish ends.
No wonder God has been so angry with you!
HIs impatience is rooted in your perpetually
Repeating the same errors in thinking and behavior.
Speaking for myself, I have grown exhausted
Having to be the intermediary between you and him.
Begging for mercy as yet another plague
Whisks away another ten thousand of your fellow Israelites.
What will you do when I am gone?
What if the Lord decides no longer
To hang out from his cloud
And never speaks to us again?
Will you continue to be like small children
And whine until all hours,
Or will you choose to act like responsible adults?
My people, for the next few weeks while I still live
I will serve you by reviewing all that has
Transpired in a way I hope you will understand.
I will speak from my heart
And hope you will listen with yours.
Shema Yisroel….