I was walking in St Mark's Square, speaking to Debbie on my phone, when I saw it happen: A huge man turned the corner, speeding along on his skateboard and headed straight for a thin, and seemingly frail, elderly Chinese man crossing the street. Debbie heard me yell, "Oh no!" The skateboarder, at least 150 lbs heavier than the elderly man, crashed into him. My heart pounded as I expected the old man to go flying through the air, but that's not what happened. When the skateboarder crashed into the man it was as if he hit a brick wall. The old man didn't budge. It was the skateboarder who flipped high into the air and landed with a loud thud. The Chinese man calmly stood as the skateboarder peeled himself off the street. He was clearly dizzy, disoriented, embarrassed and angry. He caught his balance, and, towering over the old man, began yelling, "You should be more careful! You almost killed me." The man, not intimidated, simply smiled. All who witnessed the scene applauded.

I first thought that I finally had the answer to the (false) paradox of what happens when an irresistible force - the skateboarder - meets an immovable object - the old man: The immovable object won! I then realized that the old man was not an immovable object as much as he projected an irresistible force. The immovable object was also an irresistible force. I also realized that I had seen this idea in this week's Torah reading:

"The Lord of my father came to my aid and saved me from the sword of Pharaoh." (Exodus 18:4) Rashi explains that when Pharaoh learned that Moshe killed the Egyptian, he ordered the beheading of his adopted son, but Moshe's neck became a "Marble Column." I did not like that Rashi when I first saw it; "If Moshe was so weak that he had to run away from Egypt, he could not have had the strength to become a marble column!" My father zt"l explained that God used the experience to teach Moshe that deep inside he had the strength to live as a marble column; our immovable object.

When Moshe argued with God for seven days at the Burning Bush he was learning how to become an immovable object. He was accessing what he learned when his neck became a marble column. The seven days were a lesson in accessing this inner strength, but then Moshe made a serious mistake: "They won't believe me!" (4:1) Moshe may have learned how to be an immovable object, but he had not learned how to use that strength to become an irresistible force! He doubted his ability to use that inner strength to inspire, lead, and teach his brethren how to become their own marble columns. He may have become an immovable object, but he had not yet become an irresistible force.  "The wrath of God burned against Moshe and He said, 'Is there not Aaron your brother the Levite? I know that he will surely speak." (4:14) A leader must have the strength to be an immovable object that can also be an irresistible force to inspire his followers to discover their own inner strength. Moshe's mission in the Book of Shemot, Names- Identity, was to teach his followers to access their own identity as immovable objects that were forces for good.

Those who send a message to their children and the world that, "You cannot change us. We are an immovable object," have learned only half the lesson. The immovable object must also project an irresistible force of inspiration to the world, a lesson in human potential. Every human being can become a force for good, change and growth.

I began The Foundation Stone with a clear commitment that Torah, immutable and immovable, is an irresistible force of inspiration. Our mission is to access the Torah's lessons to nurture the powerful force inherent in every soul. We are succeeding in our classes, the website and blog. People are responding with new strength and passion. Please consider using the final week of this (tax) year to contribute to our efforts to become an immovable object that projects an irresistible force.

I wish you a Shabbat that will be both a mighty immovable object and an irresistible force.

Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
President          
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