Rabbi Janine's Messages

Dear Congregants, 

According to the rabbis, even Gd worked under a deadline.
In Pirkei Avot (a rabbinic book containing moral teachings and wisdom) we read that there were ten things created by Gd right before the beginning of the first Shabbat. All ten things created contained a sort of magical quality, for example the well that followed the Israelites throughout the desert and Noah’s rainbow which appeared after the flood. Of the ten things, there’s one we read about this week in our Torah portion Balak: the “mouth of the donkey that spoke to Balaam” [Numbers 22:28–30]. 

That’s right. A talking donkey. 

This week we read in our Torah portion about a king named Balak. Balak sees the large nation of Israel approaching his kingdom. Afraid that they might attack his kingdom, Balak summons the prophet Balaam to curse the people of Israel. Gd is angry that Balaam would agree to curse the Israelites, and so Gd sends an angel to block Balaam on his way. Unfortunately for Balaam, he is unable to see the angel. But Balaam’s donkey sees the angel and refuses to walk forward. Balaam thinks his donkey won’t walk forward because he is just being stubborn. Balaam’s anger flares at the donkey until finally the donkey looks up at Balaam and says, more or less, “Hey Buddy, Do you mind?” Then Gd “opens Balaam’s eyes” and Balaam finally sees what the donkey saw all along, and Balaam is humbled. 

Let’s go back to the ten miraculous things created before Shabbat. They say you read Torah through the lens of your own life and as I sit here writing from my cluttered dining room table, covered in various packages in bubblewrap and boxes containing who knows what anymore, on the twilight of the eve of the first Shabbat in my new home, I have to laugh at myself. I’ve always read the text from Pirkei Avot as a window into a mystical moment, the twilight of the first Shabbat which allows for magical things to be created by Gd. But today, I’m feeling a little more connected to the idea of a Divine being rushing around trying to get things finished by the deadline (created and imposed by Gd, to be fair). And just as the last moments of the weekday evaporate, Gd is overcome with incredible creativity, creating these ten “things” that explain miracles in our Torah and our world.  

This is all to say that I hope you are less frantic than I am at this very moment. But if not, then perhaps we can reframe this moment not as a huge frustration but rather a moment of great potential. Whatever it is that you need to finish before this Shabbat, may it be productive and also may it be inspired, magical, and hopefully a little silly, like a donkey speaking. 

Before I go: Thank you for all of the delicious meals that have already arrived at our home and to the ones yet to come. My family and I are feeling very well taken care of and welcomed to our new home. You have made our transition that much more special. Thank you. 

Zay gezunt, be well,

Rabbi Janine Jankovitz 
She/Her