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It is, still, an unfinished symphony. The Song of the Forty-Two encampments (Numbers 33) abruptly pauses, waiting for the journey to continue. The Grave tempo delicately beats, sotto voce, when Moses ascends to heaven to bear witness to the fulfillment of God's promise to the Patriarchs (Deuteronomy 34:4;Rashi). The music switches to a march with Israel crossing the Jordan River to conquer Canaan. We mark each note from the heights of Jericho to the deeply painful notes of Jerusalem's destruction. This is the Symphony of the Journey to the Promised Land and all it entailed.
The composition continues, no longer the Symphony of God's Promise, but as the, at times, soaring, and at others, searing, music of the countless journeys of exile. God granted us much of the composer's role for The Symphony of Exile.
A discordant note hovers over the Symphony of God's Promise. Moses, in last week's portion allowed the Tribes of Reuben and Gad to have their portion of land east of the Jordan on the condition they promise to lead Israel in battle until Canaan has been conquered (Numbers 32:20-21). Yet, in the symphony he sings, "They journeyed from Alush and encamped in Rephidim (33:14)." Was it not in Rephidim that Moses refused to lead Israel in battle against Amalek, something for which he was punished (Rashi, Exodus 17:14)? He demands a promise he did not fulfill.
Another note opens a hole in the Symphony of God's Promise. "They journeyed from Rephidim and encamped in the Wilderness of Sinai (Numbers 34:15)." We do well to sing of Sinai and Revelation. Our hearts hum even as we recall the Golden Calf as it was transformed into music of forgiveness and redemption, a place where the Levites sang in joy, the Tabernacle. That highest note of Sinai was triggered when Moses refused to continue to sing the Symphony of God's Promise unless God included assumed promises. 'You found favor in my eyes by implying that You would always deal directly with us, but now You want distance (See Exodus 33:12-13).' Moses demanded God keep a promise assumed by Moses. But what of the promise assumed by the people that Moses would lead them into Canaan?
It seems that the only promise kept is the Overture to the Symphony of Exile, the promise made by the heavily criticized (Rashi, Numbers 35:14) Reuben and Gad, the promise made by people to God, the promise we continue to honor in each note of the Symphony of Exile. "If every armed man among you shall cross the Jordan before God (32:21)." "Before God," is the basis of the Symphony of Exile. We wandered and were exiled into countless places "Before God," and yet we settled and brought God with us everywhere we journeyed.
The Symphony of Exile is the extraordinary music of our willingness to bring God with us wherever we settle. It is the symphony of a promise kept by us even as we have cause to wonder and sadly lament, "Where is Your promise (Kinah 13)?"
Moses, who did not lead his people into battle, believed that in the people of whom he demanded that they lead the nation in battle because he heard the opening strings of the extraordinary journey of a promise.
Moses, who demanded God adhere to assumed promises, believed in and honored the power of the nation, in every generation to sing the Symphony of The Extraordinary Journey of a Promise. He knew the Symphony of God's Promise was an unfinished symphony, until we, would continue the symphony until, may it be speedily in our days, miraculously, magnificently, and gloriously completed.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg President If you are interested in sponsoring our  winning Newsletter, please email info@thefoundationstone.org Go to our Blog  Follow us on Twitter   Become a Fan  |
