The Opportunities Within Change

 

One of the instructions Hashem gave to Bnai Yisrael before Matan Torah is:

prepare (them) today and tomorrow,

וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם

This preparation is called kedusha, sanctity, because Bnai Yisrael is challenged to add kedusha to their lives. One adds kedusha by doing more - in both the ritual and interpersonal realms of mitzvot, and by doing what we have done all along - but with more frequency and more kavanah, intensity. Bnei Yisrael are challenged to add kedusha to their lives not just Hayom but also Machar. To maximize our potential we must commit to a trajectory of growth, now and into the future. Each person from his or her unique starting point, in their own way, and at their own pace - so long as we are all headed in the same direction.

 In a fascinating grammatical comment (I don’t say that too often), Rashi quotes the Mechilta on this pasuk:

and prepare them: Heb. וְקִדַָּשְׁךְתָּם, and you shall prepare them (Mechilta), that they should prepare themselves today and tomorrow.

וקדשתם: וזימנתם, שיכינו עצמם היום ומחר:

 The Torah states that Moshe needed to prepare the people. However the Midrash clarifies that Moshe’s role was to inspire the people to prepare themselves. This is a key, yet often overlooked, aspect of spiritual leadership: not only is it a leader’s role to lay out an inspirational vision and create opportunities to be inspired, but leaders must also inspire people to inspire themselves. 

The Midrash explains that when Moshe went up to heaven to receive the rest of the Torah, the angels tried to stop him from taking it. They felt that the Torah was too holy and humans would contaminate it. Moshe responded, “do angels get jealous, whereby it makes sense to command them Not to be jealous?” Our humanity makes our allegiance to the Torah far from certain - and that’s what makes it so meaningful. In Zecharya, the prophet states:

וְנָתַתִּי לְךָ מַהְלְכִים בֵּין הָעֹמְדִים הָאֵלֶּה:

and I will give you mobility among those who stand still.

The Vilna Gaon explains that angels are called Omdim - they have only one station in life because they lack free will. We humans are meant to be on the move - take risks, imagine ourselves different tomorrow than we are today. Sometimes we make mistakes (the bigger the plan, the greater the potential fall.) But even our mistakes are opportunities for growth.

The Torah was given to humans because we are on the move and we honor the Torah when we keep moving and developing. Reminds me of a T-Shirt I remember seeing while participating in a Half Marathon a few years back. It said: “Run if you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up.” 

Our Parsha tells the story of Bnai Yisrael at a moment of change over 3,300 years ago. To navigate that change Moshe teaches Bnai Yisrael the importance of embracing the change and committing to grow.