“The Secret Revealed,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Sermon/Shabbat Awakenings
September 13, 2024 | 10 Elul 5784
Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we move toward Shabbat. You can listen to it as a podcast here.
As we move closer to the new year and consider the ways that we want to prepare, we turn to this week’s Torah portion to assist us. In four verses at the beginning of chapter 22 of Deuteronomy, the secret of the High Holidays is revealed with the repetition of the word,
לְהִתְעַלֵּֽםֽ, lehitaleim. What does it mean?
First, let’s examine it in context and how it is translated:
לֹֽא־תִרְאֶה֩ אֶת־שׁ֨וֹר אָחִ֜יךָ א֤וֹ אֶת־שֵׂיוֹ֙ נִדָּחִ֔ים וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם הָשֵׁ֥ב תְּשִׁיבֵ֖ם לְאָחִֽיךָ׃
If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep gone astray, do not ignore it; you must take it back to your peer.
וְאִם־לֹ֨א קָר֥וֹב אָחִ֛יךָ אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְלֹ֣א יְדַעְתּ֑וֹ וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֔ךָ וְהָיָ֣ה עִמְּךָ֗ עַ֣ד דְּרֹ֤שׁ אָחִ֙יךָ֙ אֹת֔וֹ וַהֲשֵׁבֹת֖וֹ לֽוֹ׃
If your fellow Israelite does not live near you or you do not know who [the owner] is, you shall bring it home and it shall remain with you until your peer claims it; then you shall give it back.
וְכֵ֧ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַחֲמֹר֗וֹ וְכֵ֣ן תַּעֲשֶׂה֮ לְשִׂמְלָתוֹ֒ וְכֵ֣ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֗ה לְכׇל־אֲבֵדַ֥ת אָחִ֛יךָ אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאבַ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נּוּ וּמְצָאתָ֑הּ לֹ֥א תוּכַ֖ל לְהִתְעַלֵּֽם׃ {ס}
You shall do the same with their donkey; you shall do the same with their garment; and so too shall you do with anything that your fellow Israelite loses and you find: you must not remain indifferent.
לֹא־תִרְאֶה֩ אֶת־חֲמ֨וֹר אָחִ֜יךָ א֤וֹ שׁוֹרוֹ֙ נֹפְלִ֣ים בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ מֵהֶ֑ם הָקֵ֥ם תָּקִ֖ים עִמּֽוֹ׃ {ס}
If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it; you must raise it together.
You are walking along the road, late for a meeting or an appointment. Or you have your Airpods in and are listening to a great podcast or perhaps Taylor Swift or even James Taylor. Something catches your eye or you hear a sound or you see something on the ground. You know it is not yours. Do you keep going, indifferent to the situation, ignoring the need to help or do you take possession until you can locate the owner? If it is an ox, sheep, or donkey, the situation might get complicated. That would be very hard. But the text is clear, repeating the word לְהִתְעַלֵּֽם, lehitaleim three times for emphasis in each situation.
Literally, it means to hide oneself. Here it is translated to ignore or to remain indifferent. In other words, it directs us to take responsibility upon ourselves.
As we head toward Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the time for hiding from doing what is right and best for others and ourselves is ending while clear, open eyed examination of our words, actions, and deeds are on full display. The more we pay attention the more we are able to hold ourselves accountable.
It is actually not really such a secret but rather a revealed truth to our existence: Rediscover your true and best self rather than hide from yourself.
The High Holy Day season is soon upon us.
Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום
We celebrate Shabbat this week with Qabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. INSIDE. Register here to join on Zoom.
Shabbat Mispachah gathers at 5:15 p.m. for dinner before Qabbalat Shabbat services.
Riverway gathers for dinner at 6:45 p.m., followed by an 8:00 p.m. service, and ending with dessert and drinks.
On Shabbat morning, we gather at 9:00 a.m. in the library for a short Shabbat service and Torah reading followed by a lively discussion of this week’s Torah portion. All levels and abilities are welcomed. Register here to join on Zoom.
Thank Goodness it’s Shabbat gathers at 10:00 a.m. No registration necessary.
Gather online to say goodbye to Shabbat with a lay-led Havdalah on Zoom at 8:00 p.m.
See Temple Israel’s webpage for Livestream options.
I continue to value the many comments you exchange with me through these Shabbat Awakenings. Share with me what you think here. Your email goes directly to me!
Rabbi Elaine Zecher