Simchat Torah

Painting by Jakob Steinhardt

On the eighth day of Sukkot, the last words of Deuteronomy are read in the synagogue. Then the Torah scroll is rolled back to the beginning amid rejoicing and dancing. The cycle of readings has been completed once more. For the next couple of months, our readings will come from Genesis. But I cannot leave Deuteronomy without a few final thoughts, and a beautiful reflection from my friend Diane.

I have always been fascinated by the death of Moses. Though he was 120 years old scripture says his eye was not dim and we see that he was strong enough to climb a mountain alone. The Lord told Moses he would not enter the promised land. Instead, God instructed Moses to climb a mountain alone to die. Moses did not hesitate; he did not fear. He climbed the mountain, I believe, eager to commend his spirit to the God he loved. Scripture says that the Lord buried Moses. What a witness to this friendship between man and God!

I am also struck by the marked change in tone between chapter 32 and chapter 33 of Deuteronomy. In chapter 32 Moses sings of Israel’s rebellion and the Lord’s inevitable judgment; but in chapter 33 Moses blesses each tribe on behalf of the Lord, speaking with great tenderness and affirmation. The contrast emphasizes the love for Israel which God will not forsake, and the pain such love must carry. Diane writes about this tension in her own reflection.

I had decided to read through the whole Bible as it has been some years since I did. I planned to start with the Torah before Amy had sent out her email inviting to do the Torah readings with her for the Jewish New Year. I decided to continue my as I felt it was the Holy Spirit’s “tug” that prompted me to it. Soon after I began, I sensed I was to read it with the intention of exploring what God might be feeling in these narratives.

Yesterday, I read in Exodus 28, God’s instructions on the making of the Ephod of gold for Aaron, the High Priest. Somehow I had missed in my past reading that God instructed that onyx stones be engraved with the names of 6 of Jacob’s sons on one and the other 6 on the other, that they be placed in filigree settings of gold and fastened on the shoulders of the Ephod. Additionally, on the breast plate with the 3 rows of 4 precious stones, each stone was also to be engraved with a name of one of Jacob’s sons. Such attention and honor given to those 12 sons! In verse 29 God tells Moses this is to be done so that, “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) over his heart…as a continuing memorial before the Lord.”

Now, in Genesis, I had read about Jacob’s sons, and frankly, they were a bit of a mess. Then, almost murdering Joseph then relenting and selling him as a slave and lying to their father for years of his fate. Slaughtering a whole village who were recovering from being circumcised in obedience to the brother’s request for this as the bride price for their sister Dinah. The prince of the village had slept Dinah with and wanted her as his wife. Such treachery!

Granted, they did later repent to Joseph but still…. not shining examples of men of faith! So, as I read the beautiful tribute God instructed to these brothers represented in Aaron’s ephod and breastplate I thought there’s hope for me with all my failings and faithlessness!