Small Communities Shabbaton

by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein

Moses was not a happy man. For a moment when he let himself go in song at the Sea of Reeds in celebration of their great escape from slavery and persecution in Egypt, he had thought that the worst was over. All the pent-up tension had drained from him and the veins that had stood out from his neck and forehead day and night had finally been relieved. Nothing could be as bad as having to get up the confidence to go in front of Pharoah and all his courtiers so many times. Even with Aaron, his brother at his side speaking for him, the coaching of his sister, Miriam, and God filling him with strength, he had still been so nervous and afraid. Moses still had some nagging doubts of his own. Then the raw fear that had coming with their flight from Egypt, pursued, penned in by the sea and a miracle that he thought he would never comprehend.

Moses had had a lot to deal with recently and that moment he had thought those times were behind him. However, no sooner than they had set out into the wilderness, he was faced with thousands of angry, frightened faces. He had tried to boost their faith in God but they only responded: "If only we had died by God's hand in Egypt, when we at least had food. But you have brought us into this wilderness to starve this whole congregation to death." Why had he been chosen by God to do this dreadful task of leading these miserable, moaning people? Why couldn't God choose someone else? Surely had already done his bit? God had again provided for the needs of the people, with quails and manna that tasted of sweet honey flavoured with coriander. Not enough. The people became thirsty and threatened to stone Moses to death. Again God saved the day producing water at the strike of Moses' staff but this time the Israelites had pushed God too far. Their doubts, before barely contained, had surfaced in a rush along with the waters from the rock. "Is God with us or not?" they questioned.

What was Moses to do? Secretly he had shared their fears that the miracles would dry up and God would leave them to their fate in the wilderness and surely, as Moses witnessed the dust rise around the attacking Amalekites, God had done so. In desperation, Moses sent a messenger to the person he had entrusted with the well-being of his wife and sons whilst Moses had returned to Egypt to play his role confronting Pharoah, his father-in-law, Jethro. He longed to be together again with his family, to feel the warm embrace of Zipporah and her soothing hands rub his neck. He longed to hear the laughs and cries of his sons whom he had not known since they were infants. And he longed for the companionship, trust, support, and love that Jethro had given to him, even though others had questioned his relationship with this Midianite priest.

Now at his lowest ebb, burying at the foot of Mt Sinai, those who had been killed by the Amalekites, before he had convinced the people that by believing in God they would conquer, Moses turned and saw the faces of those he ached for approach the outskirts of the Israelite encampment. One person broke from the caravan and ran to him with a message: "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons." We are coming to you. The emotion was too much for Moses. He raced out of the camp, cloak flowing behind him and tears blurring his vision. He fell to the ground at his father-in-law's feet before he felt those long bony fingers on his shoulders lift him into the embrace of his family. Kisses, hugs, and questions flew around that huddle of bodies like a whirlwind. Finally, Moses took the boys in his arms and with Jethro and Zipporah by his side he led them to his tent to recover from the journey.

The boys slept in his arms and Zipporah nuzzled into the nook of his neck as Moses told his father-in-law all that had befallen them. Jethro insisted despite his tiredness in praising God with an offering, together with the reunited family, together with Miriam, Aaron and Hur. Later as the stars appeared in the sky overhead, the elders of the people joined them to share a meal of celebration and to sing praises of God for their many deliverances.

The next morning, Jethro awoke to a startled cry from his daughter. "Father, where is Moses, my husband? Has he left us again? And what is all that noise like a myriad of locust wings?" The boys hearing her anguish began to cry before they heard their grandfather's soothing voice: "Do not fear. I can hear his voice. Let me go and see what is happening."

Jethro emerged from the tent to the incredible sight of queues of chattering people all heading towards a rock where Moses sat listening intently to each one in turn. Moses, alone, listened and spoke to every person that approached him. Jethro's brow became increasingly furrowed as he watched for over an hour, a sight that he had only seen before when observing an ants nest and bee's hive. He returned to his daughter and grandsons and waited and waited. Finally as the sun faded and the sky turned orange, an exhausted Moses almost fell into the tent.

"Son, what on earth are you up to? Your wife and sons have returned but a moment and you leave them. Do you have no time spend with them? What is so important that you leave us alone again?"

"What do you want me to do?" Moses cried in exasperation. "If I leave these people alone for a moment they will revolt and more destruction will come upon us. If there is no other force to tear this people apart, they will do the job themselves. They need me. I don't need this from you now after hearing all their problems all day."

Jethro, the first management consultant in history sat his son-in-law down, gave him a swig of something special that he always carried with him in a little water-pouch, just for moments like these and listened to Moses.

I hope and pray that we in our own small communities never have to face up to the extreme problems that Moses experienced during those difficult times. However, some days we probably do experience some of the exasperation that Moses felt then. All of the community's problems falling on the shoulders of a few people who try to maintain a community that they deeply, passionately believe in and want to succeed. Balancing the demands of occupations and the need to spend real time with family and friends. Time just not to have to worry about leading the next service, who will teach the children next week, who will host the next social gathering and fund-raiser. I know that many are the times when you feel the immense satisfaction when things are running smoothly, when a new member congratulates you on the warm welcome into the arms of the community that they have felt, when you hear the intense discussions of a group of adults studying together, and the laughter of children learning and playing.

Can those things be achieved in a more efficient way? Does it need to lead to the burn-out of the few who spend hours and hours on the phone organising, persuading, cajoling others to help? Jethro did not seem to think so and nor do I. Jethro was able to be on the spot to help Moses establish an organisation that did not just rely on a single person. For sure, if it were not for Moses and his deep conviction for what he was doing and the strength of his belief in God, the Israelites would not have survived those forty years in the wilderness. We need people, such as those of you who have come from small communities around the country today, to be tireless in the pursuit of the communities you have built-up with such great conviction. But we also want you to be able to enjoy the fruits with family and friends, as Moses might finally have been able to do.

Today you have a Jethro. You have each other to share the stories and burdens of your leadership and you have those of us from the CJE, RSGB, and ULPS with whom to explore some of Jethro's suggestions of a community with devolved responsibilities. Not just today but also in the future whenever you feel that our support would be useful.

Let us together celebrate the enormous efforts that have got your communities to the stage they are now at. Let us praise God for the strength and commitment that you continue to show to your communities. Let us explore practical ways to share the burdens of leadership, to enthuse our members, and to motivate them to play their part in the future of the Jewish community that we hold so dear.

Adonai oz l'amo yiteyn. Eternal God, grant strength to your people.

Adonai y'varech et amo va'shalom. Eternal God, bless your people with peace.

Amen

Rabbi Goldstein is the Outreach Director of Liberal Judaism

This sermon was given on Shabbat Yitro Saturday 2nd February 2002 at Thames Valley Progressive Jewish Community