CHOCHMAS NASHIM: SHOFTIM: COMFORT FROM THE ULTIMATE JUDGE
shark washes ashore in atlantic beach
By: Suri Davis
After months now of dealing with the world on a pandemic level, feeling judged by HKBH/G-d, challenged to stay at home, at a distance from those outside my home, and to sit with where I am in life and my place in the world.
It is a torah portion which discusses boundaries, physical property boundaries, who we take what we think is ours from HKBH and giving gratitude to G-d for our produce, for our income by sharing it with the Priests and Levites who serve G-d in the holy temple.
My friend, Tania Hammer, made Aliyah and she has a garden with, among other things, grapes. Before she eats the grapes, since she lives in Israel, she has to tithe them. I ask them where the tithed grapes go, and she replied “respectfully in the garbage.”
I too have grapevines in my home. I waited four years before I was permitted to pick the grapes and enjoy them. That too is a recognition that all is from G-d, even for those who do not live in Israel. G-d connects to us through the land, through our produce and bounty. G-d rewards us by permitting our agricultural efforts to bear fruit. I don’t take it for granted, as there are years that there is greater produce than others. In this week’s torah portion, we are warned that when we conquer our land, do not uproot fruit trees, because it is a connection with G-d. The spies that Moshe sent to Israel to report back about the land, praised its fruit, and that it is a land of milk and honey.
So as I sit with the pandemic, and the unknown possibility of a second wave I read this week’s haftorah, which starts with “I (G-d), yes I, Who comforts you…For I am G-d, your G-d who calms the sea, [if He wants, or makes] its waves roar.”
I thought I would take this opportunity to show gratitude to HKBH for comforting me with His waves each day. I grew up here on Long Island, when I was younger, I thought all children spent endless days on the beach, eating sandy watermelon, and buying ice cream which ultimately melted down to my elbow as I ate the creamsicle or fudgcicle, depending on the day.[It was my most difficult decision in those days}
After months of being cooped up. As it warmed, I went to the beach to see the G-d exhibit, and it never failed to please and connect.