Our language, Torah, is a language obsessed with action, and with the joy of seeing action multiply from action, action marching relentlessly ahead and with yet more actions filing in from either side to fall into neat step at the rear, in a long straight rank of cause and effect toward what will be inevitable, the only possible end. We even describe our system of laws as action: Halacha - to walk and move ahead.

Yet one of the most powerful scenes in the Bible is a pause in the action: Moses and the Children of Israel completed the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, and they stood and reflected on their handiwork. They  breathlessly waited to see what would happen: Would God rest His Presence and Glory on their man made structure? Would He be willing to publicly honor the people who had sinned with the Golden Calf?

"The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle." (Exodus 40:34) They had succeeded. No action was allowed: "Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, for the cloud rested upon it, and the Glory of God filled the Tabernacle." Even Moses could not move. The people had to simply stand, pause, and observe what they accomplished.

The temporary pause in the action demonstrated the accomplishment of all their previous actions and empowered all their future actions.

A momentary pause while praying to relish the fact that I can speak to God and He listens is often the most intense moment of prayer.

No wonder the Mitzvah to destroy all the Chametz, leavened bread, in our possession before Pesach is taught with the word "Tashbitu," which usually translates as rest or pause, rather than a word with action directed destruction. Ridding our homes of Chametz is a profound pause in our lives. We pause to examine every nook and cranny of our homes and souls. We pause from the usual and refocus our lives. We pause and consider everything we eat and how we eat. We take a pause from our patterned lives and see if we can discover HaChodesh - the new opportunities that are available.

The Foundation Stone™ took a pause this week in order to switch our website and blog's hosting company. The BNN paused to allow its senior correspondent to recover his voice. We used the pause to consider our work and reflect on new possibilities. Behold, it was good.  Thanks for your patience.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
President          
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