Shabbat Vaera

15 January 2010  – Parashat Vaera

We cannot help but be moved by the scenes from Haiti, after the earthquake which struck so violently in the week.  There are those who think the plagues described in our Torah portion were the result of a natural disaster, which then embedded itself in the lives of the ancient Israelites as the mythic account of God’s intervention in the natural order of things.

The problem is, the story of the Exodus is a myth about the formation of God’s relationship to the Children of Israel, the Egyptians and the world.  It has nothing to do with historical scientific fact – that is besides the point and actually devalues the significance of a foundational sacred myth.  Equally natural disasters are about the way the world is, a world that can be scrutinised by scientists .  They have nothing to do with God making things happen as punishments, educational tools, a test, or a show of love through suffering.  Putting God into the equation does not make the incomprehensible comprehensible.

There is a story, adapted from a version found in the book, “Because God Loves Stories” (edited by Steve Zeitlin):

Once a young Torah scholar, who studied all his life, dedicating himself to understanding the religious texts of Judaism, was studying in the Beit Midrash (study hall).  That night, for no apparent reason, he got up slammed shut the book he was studying, the Talmud, and ran out into the street crying, “What is the meaning of life? I cannot go any further, I cannot study one additional verse of Torah without knowing the meaning of life.”

Other pious Jews surround him, leaving their studies behind.  They try and calm him down, but it is all to no avail.  Finally, they recommend that he visits the Rabbi.  He leaves at once on his journey to the neighbouring village and knocks on the door of the wise old sage.  He whispers, “Rabbi, what is the meaning of life?  I cannot go on studying until I know, what is the meaning of life?”

The Rabbi, who has been faced with this question many times before, but rarely by someone so desperate to comprehend the world and their life, stands up and walks over to the young student.  He looks deep into his eyes and suddently, out of nowhere he slaps him.

“Why Rabbi, why did you slap me?  What have I done?  All I want to do is to understand the meaning of life.”

The Rabbi responds and says…

What did the Rabbi say?

Post your ideas for the ending below in the comments section or email Rabbi Neil Janes (rabbi@fps.org).