In Parashat B鈥檋aalot鈥檆ha, we find the Israelites still wandering in the wilderness. They are in the liminal space between slavery and freedom- having escaped Egypt, but still far from the Promised Land. They are living with uncertainty, not knowing what lies ahead, and learning lessons as they go. This section of Torah is rich with stories and teachings for all of us. But, there is one small moment that I want to highlight. It is not the most dramatic scene in the Torah portion, yet I think it carries an important lesson.
In Chapter 9 of Numbers, the Israelites are commanded by God to observe Passover in the wilderness, and they do. Those who are ritually impure or unable to participate are given another opportunity at a later time. At first glance, it seems like an odd time to mark such a significant occasion. Wouldn’t it make more sense to wait until they arrived safely at their destination in the Promised Land? Wouldn’t it be easier to celebrate once the journey was complete?
However, that is not the instruction the Israelites receive. In that moment, we learn something important about ourselves and our tradition. If we wait for everything to be perfect or complete before we celebrate, we may never celebrate at all. The Israelites are instructed to commemorate their liberation while they are still in the middle of their Exodus story. They do not wait for everything to be resolved and wrapped up in a neat bow. They pause to remember, to give thanks, and perhaps to gather the strength they will need for the journey ahead.
There is a lesson in this for all of us. It reminds me of a famous teaching where the sages teach that when a funeral procession and a wedding procession meet, the funeral procession yields to the wedding procession (Ketubot 17a). This teaching does not diminish the pain of a funeral. Rather, it reminds us that even in a world where sorrow is present, we have an obligation to also make room for joy.
We live in a moment when it can feel difficult to celebrate. Our nation faces deep divisions and challenges. Around the world, wars continue, and communities grapple with violence, hatred, and uncertainty. Many of us carry personal worries alongside these collective concerns. In light of these difficulties, it can be tempting to think that joy should wait. Perhaps, we think, we will celebrate when things get better. However, Jewish tradition has never worked that way.聽
In this Torah portion, our ancestors observed Passover while wandering through the wilderness. Similarly, we as Jews have lit Shabbat candles in moment of exile. We have observed holidays, danced with the Torah, and celebrated in moments of hardship and oppression. We still do, to this day. And it鈥檚 not because we are ignoring reality, but rather, because celebration is more than a reward for reaching the end of the journey- it is part of who we are. Our tradition gives us moments that remind us of what we are working toward- opportunities to gather with loved ones, to express gratitude, to witness beauty, and to experience joy.
As we look at our country, our Jewish community, and our world, we should not turn away from the challenges that confront us. But we also should never give up our Jewish joy. We must gather for Shabbat, mark holidays, rejoice at weddings, welcome children, and celebrate graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, and more, together in community. We hope you’ll join us this Friday for our spirited, fun, and even a little silly Hot Shabbat鈥攁 celebration of Shabbat, summer, and all that is joyful in our community.
Like our ancestors marking Passover in the wilderness, we must pause to celebrate. Not because the work is finished, but because for the journey to continue, we need to pause and gather strength for the road ahead.聽
Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Sydney Michaeli聽