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Orchard of Delights Naso

Rashi explains that whenever unbridled immorality rears its head dropping their defenses and reaching out to each other. Oftentimes a
and God unleashes the forces of destruction, the good and the evil new job, a change of location, or a new relationship revitalizes people,
are destroyed together (Genesis 6:13). In our case as well we could offering them a fresh start in life. At other times, a crisis provides
explain that these babies were literally dragged down to their deaths people with the opportunity to look at things in a new light or to
solely because of the sins of others. In fact, the Sages deduce the well- take serious stock of their actions. At each of these junctures people
known dictum that “all of Israel is responsible one for the other” with the right intentions can, in a relatively short time, rectify and
from a verse that the Sages understood to mean that one Jew’s sin heal their pasts, breaking through the barriers holding them back by
may have a negative impact upon another Jew’s life (Leviticus 26:37; adopting new and rectified attitudes to life.
Shevuot 39a). This same possibility holds true for nations as well. Sometimes,

Ultimately, the truest explanation, though it may appear to be after many years of enmity, loathing, and war, dramatic events
somewhat intellectually shallow at first, is that God knows best; create an atmosphere where radical change is possible. Although
therefore, there must be a reason for the infants’ deaths since “all it certainly did not resolve or fully rectify the long and sometimes
that God does is for the good” (Berachot 60b). So much of life is torturous relationship between the Jewish people and the world, the
beyond our comprehension that we must ultimately fall back on our birth of the State of Israel can be seen as a radical departure from
firm belief that only God knows what is truly for the best and only previous relationship patterns. Indeed, with the obvious exception
He can ensure that this is carried out in any given situation. Even of the Arab and Moslem worlds, the Jewish people’s relationship
at a funeral, when our loved ones lie before us ready to be buried, we with the world has been altered for the better. And a rectification of
read verses affirming our belief in God’s justice and goodness. the relationship with the Arab and Moslem worlds will also come in
good time.
The Midrash provides a story that highlights this message. When
Moses first left Pharaoh’s palace to seek his brethren’s welfare, he On an even grander scale, the possibility always exists of the
saw a Jewish child being crushed in a wall as it was being built and entire world undergoing a radical change. After being confronted
questioned God’s justice. God gave Moses permission to save the with events or circumstances far beyond the norm, the chance for a
child but warned him that there was much more to the situation permanent change in how the world conducts its affairs and nations
than meets the eye. This child eventually grew up to be Micah, a key relate to one another may arise. The words of the prophets are full of
player in the creation of the Golden Calf, a sin that almost caused allusions and explicit prophecies predicting events that will usher in
God to destroy the entire Jewish people. This Midrash teaches us the Messianic era. Then, and only then, will the full rectification and
that while our initial desire to save the life of a child at all costs is healing of the world occur.
praiseworthy and even correct, Moses’ questioning God was based on When the princes brought their gifts, they were focused on the
a limited viewpoint and not on a broader perspective that took into opportunity for repair and atonement inherent in that day. How much
account so many factors beyond his comprehension.
the princes and Nadav and Avihu were able to accomplish we may
In our case as well, the urge to question God’s righteousness in never know, but they remain beacons of shining light suggesting the
letting these infants die, may be the result of our limited vision, for paths we may choose to take. May we always be ready and willing to
we are unaware of all the other factors that only God can account seize the moment and maximize its full potential. (Part of this insight
for. This quandary led the Ba’al Shem Tov to declare that after one was discussed in Return Again: The Dynamics of Reincarnation, pp.
has amassed wisdom and knowledge, and even explored the deepest 131-135.)
Kabbalistic mysteries, one should still choose “simple faith” above

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