Shabbat Messages

My rabbinical school, the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York, bears a striking inscription on the facade of its imposing brick tower: 
וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל
“And the bush was not consumed”

In rabbinical school, older students would share the lore about this tower with the new students: The tower was, in 1966, consumed by a fire. This tower housed the Seminary’s vast library, where an estimated 70,000 books in addition to 40 Torahs - many of which were saved during the Holocaust - were burned, consumed. 

The tower’s phrase “And the bush was not consumed” is taken from this week’s parsha, Shemot, which includes the most famous story of fire in the entire Torah: the Burning Bush (Exodus 3-4:17). Moses, now grown and having fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster, encounters a bush that is on fire, but does not burn up. God calls to Moses from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

“Hineini” (“Here I am”), Moses replies.

Hineini appears as an answer to God multiple times in the Torah as an unhesitating response by a person who then carries out the will of God. In this case, God calls on Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Moses first humbly protests, then, true to his hineini response, courageously does as God has asked. What comes next, we know, is a history of our people that began with this simple word of presence and readiness in the face of crisis.

Throughout my student years at JTS, I heard stories about trying to salvage books that only had water damage; of the teachers, librarians, rabbis, staff, and students spending countless hours placing individual paper towels between each page of thousands of books. Stories of those who contributed to the rescue efforts of these sacred texts, so essential to the identity of the Seminary, through their actions said, “hineini.” 

In the past week and a half, I have been overcome by the outpouring of responses of “hineini” from our community, present and ready to help victims of the fires. Parents at ECC and Brawerman dropoff holding each other, Religious School families and Madrichim making sandwiches in partnership with Karsh, our volunteer form generating eager responses, and generous contributions to our Wildfire Relief Fund. When the bush was on fire, you answered the call with “hineini.”

Beloved Wilshire Boulevard Temple community members, family, friends and fellow Angelenos are entering this Shabbat mourning the loss of homes, stability, precious items that make memories tangible, and much more. The legacy of Moses at the Burning Bush was in his saying to God, “Hineini!” In other words, “I know that my people are in crisis, that they are suffering. I am present and I am eager. I will help them know that they are not alone. Here I am!”   

There is a long road ahead. To all affected by these devastating fires, your Clergy and entire Temple community say, “Hineini!” The bush, having survived the fire, will not be consumed. You are not alone today, and you will not be alone in the months and years ahead as you rebuild. 

And with news of a ceasefire and hostage release deal announced this week, we open the book of Exodus, the story of our redemption, with hopeful prayers for the freedom and swift redemption of the hostages from their captivity.

With love and wishes for a Shabbat of shalom,
Rabbi Leah Fein