B'haalotkha: Light The Lamps

For Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, a leader

Numbers, Chapter 8, Verses 1 & 2

 “And God spoke to Moses and said, when you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.”

Blessed Yah, Ruach HaOlam, breathing us in and breathing us out,

This community,

Sitting in this shul today

We know what a role model is

We know the example our rabbi offers us.

Am I right or am I right?

We are blessed in our rabbi.

Truly she lights the candles

At the front of the lampstand.

Thank you for the opportunity to stand with her.

Thank you for the opportunity to pray with her

Bless be Yah, Breathing Us In and Breathing Us Out.
We are one in the One-ness, as we light the lamps together.

9: 15 – 17

On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Pact; and in the evening it rested over the Tabernacle in the likeness of fire until morning. 16 It was always so: the cloud covered it, appearing as fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from the Tent, the Israelites would set out accordingly; and at the spot where the cloud settled, there the Israelites would make camp.

Blessed be Yah, Breathing Us In and  Breathing Us Out

Giving us  The Blessed Cloud

Covering us during the day

Giving Us the Pillar of Fire

Guiding Us in the dark night

We can, we know,

Set out whenever we want.

And we can settle, we know,

Whenever we feel like it.

We don't need clouds or pillers of fire

We're American!

We're Free!

But-- Our way is lit by good example

Righteous anger motivates us

Compassionate love guides us.

We are free to be inspired.

Blessed Cloud

Covering us during the day

Pillar of Fire

Guiding Us in the dark night,

We give thanks for leadership

When it is hard to lead.

We give thanks for our community

When it is hard to follow.

Bless be Yah, Breathing Us In and Breathing Us Out.
We are free to lead and to follow when we choose.

May we always know when to do either.

12:1  

When they were in Chatzerot, 1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married: "He married a Cushite woman!"

Bless be Yah, Breathing Us In and Breathing Us Out.
Infinite, unknowable, impossible:

I love to gossip.

“He married a Cushite Woman!”

Oh definitely

I’m Miriam

Sitting in the back of the room

Whispering with my bro, Aaron,

Dishing the dirt on Moses

Mr. Big Shot

Who does he think he is?

We get high on that kind of talk sometimes

Don’t we?

It unites us, it thrills us

But it’s also the stuff of life

The social blood of the community

How else do you know how people are doing,

For good and for ill,

If you don’t talk about them?

The rabbis don’t care if your talk is well-intentioned

Between good social interaction

And bad malicious gossip

The rabbis, they don’t distinguish.

Doesn't matter what you’re saying.

Talking behind someone’s back?

Shameful!

A shonda!

Lashon hara

Evil Tongue

Totally forbidden.

But Really?

Never talk about anyone behind their back?

Okay, just take me out and shoot me now.

I’m Miriam,

Sitting in the back of the room.

Whispering.

Facebook

Twitter

Whatever.

Well I’m only sort of Miriam,

Cause really

I don’t care who Moses married.

He married a Cushite woman

She’s not Jewish

She’s black

What do I care?

Mazel Tov!

What business is it of mine?

What business is it of Miriam and Aaron’s?

He’s Moses, for God’s Sake!

He does his Moses thing

I don’t see what his choice of spouse has to do with it.

I mean, God makes it quite clear

Aaron and Miriam are merely prophets

Which means

God sits in the back of their brains

And mumbles.

And if they’re lucky enough to hear God’s whispers

They only hear it in their dreams.

Behold, says God

And they interpret as best they can

But God speaks to Moses directly.

And Moses back to God.

Frankly,

Moshe Rabeinu can marry whoever the hell he wants,

And if Moses can, why can’t Ellen Lippmann?

Exactly.

But God does not like busybodies

So God comes down hard on Aaron and Miriam.

Withdraws the God-cloud from the mishkan during the day

Withdraws the God-fire from the mishkan at night.

They are devastated.

And if that’s not bad enough

God gives Miriam leprosy

And sends her out of the camp.

Sidebar:

God doesn’t punish Aaron

At all

Biblical God is a sexist,

It’s a given.

Anyway,  the joke’s on God

Because after Miriam leaves the camp

God and the cloud come back

Then lifts it up to tell the people to set forth

But they will not move

They will not follow

Until Miriam is allowed back in the camp.

They need her.

So after a week God relents and she returns.

Moses may be Moses

But we need all our people

The ones who make the sacrifices

The ones who find the water

The ones who light the lamps

In the front of the lampstand

And the ones who light the lamps in the back.

Bless be Yah, Breathing Us In and Breathing Us Out.
We are one in the One-ness, as we light the lamps together.

Chapter 12, Verse 6

After that the people set out from Chatzerot and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

Shabbat Shalom

Two Cups: Elijah and Miriam

We open the door for Elijah,
Angry prophet of the world to come.
And we ask God to pay attention
To the fire from the sky that was Elijah’s gift,

A regretted necessity.
Elijah announces the Mashiach
Who then saves the Jews!  Huzzah!!
Elijah, the angry bringer of justice.
It’s a little scary
So invite that in.
Bring down the anger, bring down the plagues
Sometimes we need them,
It’s part of the story.
We were slaves in Egypt and it was horrible.

But 
If there is a child at the table
Let her open the door for visiting Uncle Elijah
And hope that there’s some wind tonight.
And when it blows
Tell her that’s Elijah as he comes inside
Visiting each Jewish home on Pesach
To have his cup of wine.
And when the child sits back down
Jiggle the table just a little
And tell her to watch the wine shake in the cup
So the kid thinks Elijah is there, taking a sip:
The anger will wait, let's have fun.

We lift Miriam’s cup,
Dancing prophet

Of the world that glories in Now.
And we tell God we are grateful
For the water that was Miriam’s gift,
A welcome necessity.
Miriam announces joy!
And teaches us to save ourselves.
Miriam, the bringer of mercy,
There’s no prayer for her in the haggadah--
So make one up!
It’s a little scary
But what the heck.
Bring up the water, start the party
Sometimes we need it
And it’s part of the story:
We were slaves in Egypt and now we are free.

But
If there is a child at the table
And all the gabbing makes him thirsty,

Let him take a sip from Miriam’s cup.
And while he drinks
Tell him about Miriam the artist
Singing Mi-Hamochah on the Red Sea shore,
Taking too much pleasure in the Egyptian's deaths.
And when the child is ready
Remember that Miriam was a truth teller
And for that the prophet paid a heavy price.
Make sure the kid values that water:
The fun will wait, let's get angry.

Fire and Water,

Justice and Mercy,
Tzedek v’ Rachamim.
The cup of wine to stir the flame,
The cup of water to quench it.
Only with both cups are we complete.

Baruch Atah Adonai,

Brucha At Shechinah
Elijah and Miriam
We are blessed this Pesach night.
Amen.