“Praying, Waiting, Acting”
Miriam, the oldest sister of both Moses and Aaron,
was a beloved and faithful sister, an outspoken daughter,
a prophetess, a leader, an educator and a trail blazer.
When the Children of Israel were slaves in Egypt,
Pharaoh decreed that all newborn Jewish baby boys should be killed.
Miriam watched over her baby brother, Moses,
when he was placed into a basket in the bulrushes in an attempt
to avoid this decree.
She positioned herself close by.
She waited to see what would happen, and
was able to ensure that baby Moses would be nursed by his own mother.
In this week's Torah portion because Miriam spoke with Aaron about Moses
in an inappropriate and negative way,
she was stricken with tzaraas- a painful skin condition.
In response, Moses cried out to Hashem, saying,
"Heal her now."
His prayer was short and powerful.
A call for healing NOW!
Moses is demonstrating that our prayers have the potential to
change the reality we experience.
In addition to praying for her return to good health,
Moses and all of the Jewish people
waited for Miriam to be healed (just as she had waited for him).
"Miriam was quarantined outside the camp for seven days, an
the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in."
Praying and waiting.
We are also called upon to pray and to wait.
Nowadays our prayers are for healing, and
they also include a cry for peace,
for justice, and for an end to all the wars and all the suffering.
However, we don't only pray and wait for justice and peace to reign-
we speak out,
we act,
we educate ourselves and
we try to root out hatred.
Our prayers are coupled with action.
May our prayers for good health (both physical and mental), for peace and
for an end to all suffering be heard and bring what we desire now.
Shabbat shalom
Elissa
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