The Talmud teaches that 30 days before Passover, we should start learning about the holiday and its meaning. In that spirit, I humbly offer "30 Days of Liberation." For each of the next 30 days, I will offer a brief message drawn from the wisdom of Passover. I hope you find these messages meaningful and inspiring. Feel free to share/forward.
30 Days of Liberation: Day 7
The moment the Children of Israel settled in Egypt, they concentrated themselves in the Goshen region, fertile land in the Nile delta suitable for grazing and farming. This meant that from the beginning, the average Egyptian probably never met an Israelite. No wonder Pharaoh had such an easy time convincing his people that the Israelites were enemies to be controlled or destroyed. No wonder the Egyptians were unsympathetic to the enslaved Israelites’ suffering. Today, most of us live in socially, economically, and often ethnically homogenous areas. But when we are isolated from people of different backgrounds, experiences, and situations, we become more likely to fear or vilify them, and risk becoming indifferent to their needs. We don't need to necessarily get up and move to more diverse neighborhoods. But unless we deliberately encounter and engage with diverse people, we might end up just like those ancient Egyptians.
When a challenge arises, there are many reactions: excitement for the possible outcome, but also fear -- of the unknown, of the work involved, and fear of failure. Like our ancestors who were challenged with leaving Egypt, the fear of the unknown far outweighed the excitement of what was possible, so they began their journey with a single step. The Passover Challenge to raise $100,000 is exciting and frightening - but the outcome is so great - $150,000 for Temple Beth-El!
The Passover Challenge will only be successful if we ALL participate as generously as possible. Please make a gift today by clicking here or email Faith Kallman or call 804-355-3564 x104.
Dear {{first_name}}, you are receiving this email because you are subscribed to "Messages from Rabbi Knopf." To tailor your subscriptions, click here.
Temple Beth-El 3330 Grove Avenue Richmond, VA 23221
