Dear Friends,
Do any of you know the song by Jefferson Starship that asks, “If only you believed in miracles, we could fly?” Do we believe in miracles?
This week we read in the Torah about the miracle which occurred at the Sea of Reeds (the Red Sea) where Moses, Miriam, and our ancestors crossed through the sea when G-d parted the waters. Do we really believe that this miracle occurred in the way that the Torah states? One explanation is that the waters didn’t recede until Nachshon took the first step into the water with faith that his actions would result in some way that he and those with him could get across to safety.
Often we wait for the miraculous to happen and we are frustrated when nothing special happens. Although I certainly have faith that G-d will support us in our efforts to make miracles happen in our lives, I believe that it is our actions that lead to special things happening. How many of us remember the statement that we should pray as if everything depends upon G-d, and act as if everything depends upon us? I believe that we have a sacred partnership with G-d and that between G-d and us, we can make the world a place where miracles can happen.
I continue to reference the outgoing President of George Mason, Alan Merton’s comment that too often people say “ready, aim, aim, aim…and never say fire.” In order to make miracles happen in our own lives, in the lives of our community, and in the lives of those whom we touch, we need to “fire!” We need to act on our hopes and have faith that our dreams can be realized. Without taking a chance, Nachshon would never have stepped into the Sea. Without taking a chance, we can never know the significant accomplishments that are out there waiting for us to achieve them.
I hope that we do believe in miracles and are prepared to try to bring them into our lives. I would like everyone to help me make a miracle come true. The first Israeli emissary or shlicha who came to Northern Virginia a few years ago, Shiri Rachamim, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and is in a hospital in Israel receiving chemotherapy. I want you to personally offer a mishebarach or prayer of healing for Shiri bat Gila (it is customary to recite a healing prayer for a person and mention his/her name as the son/daughter of the mother since the mother is the one who gives birth which is different from a Torah aliyah where in traditionally Orthodox synagogues people are called up as the child of their father). We know that Shiri is receiving the best medical care available and now we have to do our part to help her recover.
I hope that each of you will take steps through the challenging moments of your lives and will make miracles come true.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bruce Aft