The Things We Take For Granted… 
Shabbat Parashat B’har
May 10, 2014 – 10 Iyyar 5774
The Things We Take For Granted…
It is almost eerie how our weekly parsha [Torah portion] sometimes resonates with the times and with the news…This week, in particular, I feel that resonance on so many levels.
Our parsha speaks of the Jubilee year, envisioning the Land reverting to its original owners, once every half a century. In the words of the Torah:
“…Each of you shall return to his holding and each of you shall return to his family (Leviticus 25:10).”
In our world, it is so natural for us to be scattered across the country, sometimes across the globe, far from our families of origin. We are taught to become independent, to follow our dreams, to look for opportunities. Yet, as a result, at times, we find ourselves distanced from family. And, we may also find ourselves distanced from Jewish community.
Reading the words of our parsha as Mother’s Day weekend approaches, we may hear the message of ancient times in a new and amazingly clear voice. It might be physical distance that keeps us apart. It might also be emotional distance. Whatever keeps us apart – let us remember the gift of returning and of re-connecting. Let’s not take our relationships for granted.
However, this week in particular, I read the Torah’s words about return to one’s holdings and to one’s family in another way as well…
I read these words as a prayer and as a call to action – a prayer that the kidnapped Nigerian girls may be found and rescued and returned to their homes; a call to action that we take the trouble to raise our voices for the sake of these girls and of their families.
This week, in particular, I feel that special timely resonance of our weekly Torah portion on so many levels….
May we celebrate what we have and deepen our connections to family, to friends, and to community.
May we not take for granted the freedoms we have to move at will and to connect and to re-connect.
May the kidnapped girls be brought back to their holdings and to their families.
And may the vision of Torah bring more and more light into our world, speedily and in our time!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Gilah Dror
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