Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 24 Shevat 5784
Parsha Yitro: (Exodus 18:1 – 20:23)
Seventh Portion: Exodus 20:15 – 20:23

Shabbat Shalom everyone! We finish out the Parsha Yitro (Jethro) today. And we see the impact of one mans life on the Jewish people.  All Jethro did is confront Moses – saying Moses needed to take care of himself. And what unfolded afterwards is direction.

This is the beauty. Self care can provide clarity for direction.  This is the lesson.

Let’s dig into today’s portion:

15And all the people saw the voices and the torches, the sound of the shofar, and the smoking mountain, and the people saw and trembled; so they stood from afar.

16They said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear, but let God not speak with us lest we die.”

17But Moses said to the people, “Fear not, for God has come in order to exalt you, and in order that His awe shall be upon your faces, so that you shall not sin.”

Needless to say? The people were FREAKED OUT. They asked Moses to translate – they did not want to hear directly from Hashem.

A lot of the spiritual work I do with people is translation. I don’t pass knowledge on to them.  They are hearing things from within themselves. And they are struggling to hear it. A lot of what I do is ask curious questions about what they are experiencing, and they learn to trust the messages and intuition they already have.

Moses tells the people NOT to be afraid. The voice of Hashem has come for a purpose: TO EXALT US.

Um. Why? Hasn’t Hashem met us? I know me. I am not thrilled to be exalted. If I am exalted, I will be exposed. And I will feel judged. And I know – I’ve already judged myself HARSHLY – why would I want to expose this to anyone else.

WHY? Why would Hashem DO THIS?

“In order that Hashem’s AWE will be upon our faces.”

We’ve been discussing awe – this idea of fear/safety interconnected. To feel safe in the fear. This fear/safety dynamic is critical for us. We often feel one or the other but struggle at the same time.

Why does Hashem want us to feel AWE? “so you shall not sin.”

Let’s talk about sin. I feel like this word gets a bad rap. (For those of you too young to understand that word, it’s short for reputation. Yeah. I know. It doesn’t make a lot of sense. The 80s/90s? They were odd times. You really had to be there – it was fly, and Phat)

What is sin?

For many of us we see “sin” as “doing something WRONG.” Or “Doing something WORTHY OF JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNDATION.”

Why? Because that is what we were taught. By people with POWER.

And what might be the motive or value for someone with POWER to teach us that “sin” is condemnation?

To keep their power. Because THEIR SINS aren’t exposed because of their power – yet, “the people’s sin” (sounds like a professional wrestler) is exposed – and requires support from the religious leaders in POWER.

What if? And I know some will call me a heretic – but if you’ve been following me so far, what took you so long to figure this out? What if? Sin is MERELY a term that describes a BREAK of relationship?

Just sit with that.

I yell at my kid because I am projecting my anger onto them? That’s a sin. It’s a break in relationship.

I react emotionally to someone being vulnerable and take out my anxiety on them? That’s a sin. It’s a break in relationship.

My guilt and shame cause me to react instead of navigating those and responding? That’s a sin. It’s a break in relationship.

How many “sins” or “broken moments” in a relationship with someone need to happen before the relationship is over?

We have been sold a bill of goods by religious leaders that all it takes is ONE when it comes to God.

Hogwash.

No lightning strike. I am safe.

If God is so emotionally fragile that one break in relationship with Him is all it takes for Him to reject us? Um. That feels like a cult. Or slavery. That does not feel like freedom and liberation, does it?

And. I have more bad news.

If we break relationship with God, the idea of “you need to go talk to this dude over here to restore your relationship with Him?” That feels like control.  ESPECIALLY when one dude (*cough* Constantine *cough*) brought together more dudes (*cough* Council of Nicaea *cough*) to create a new religion centered around this idea (*cough* The Nicaean Creed *cough*) when THE DUDE (in case you haven’t figured it out yet? I am talking about Jesus) WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN INVITED to the party to make this decision (*cough* Jewish followers of Jesus were not allowed to attend the council of Nicaea *cough* Jesus was Jewish *cough*).

Sorry. I may be getting COVID. Let me take a test.

Whew. No COVID. Ok. Back to the thoughts.

The bottom line? Sin is about TRANSFORMATIONAL RELATIONSHIP.

Now. Does this give us carte blanche (oh la la – look at that fancy word that just means freedom) to do whatever we want and ignore the impact it has on Hashem?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

17But Moses said to the people, “Fear not, for God has come in order to exalt you, and in order that His awe shall be upon your faces, so that you shall not sin.”

If we want to be in relationship with Hashem (which by the way? Is really being in a relationship with ourselves SINCE HASHEM IS WITHIN US) we just need to keep doing the work to connect with Hashem through the Mitzvahs.

Ok. Let’s keep going:

18The people remained far off, but Moses drew near to the opaque darkness, where God was.

19The Lord said to Moses, “So shall you say to the children of Israel, You have seen that from the heavens I have spoken with you.

20You shall not make [images of anything that is] with Me. Gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.

Um. Gods of silver or gods of gold?

I’m looking at you Constantine. Golden Calf (we will get to that soon)? Golden White Jesus on a Golden Cross? Just sayin.

Yes, Christian friends – I know. Jesus came to do away with the Torah. Oh. Wait. Not do away – but fulfill.

(Checks his bible in the Book of Matthew)

Um. You may want to read Matthew 5:17. And? Maybe not stop there? Maybe go all the way to 5:20? Spend some time contemplating on 5:19?

And if you need more? Maybe contemplate 2 Timothy 3:16-17? And maybe ask yourself honestly – what scripture was Paul (as a Jewish dude) referring to that was “God-Breathed.”

I’ll wait.

The “New Testament” hadn’t been written yet. The ONLY Scripture Paul COULD HAVE BEEN referring to is (checks notes) the Torah.

I’ll wait as you process that.

Yes. I know. Paul had a vision of the new testament and what he was REALLY saying is “my words? They are SCRIPTURE people! MY WORDS ARE AS GOD BREATHED AS THE TORAH!”

Just sit with that.

Ok. I am sorry.

I know this is hard.

It undoes a 2000 year old philosophy whose sole purpose was control. And yes. People like Martin Luther (and his thesis posted on the doors of the church) tried to “fix” the church. Martin Luther (checks notes) who wrote “On the Jews and Their Lies.”

Um. I’ll wait.

Jesus was a Jew.

And hear me Jewish friends. I am NOT SAYING Jesus is God. Anymore than I am saying We are all Hashem – because we have a Neshama. And. We are all CONNECTED to Hashem. Hashem – even a spark – is within us.

I am just trying to explain – I don’t believe Jesus came to start a new religion. Or even change the current one.

Jesus Came to explain to the people the Torah isn’t about oppression and control. It was about FREEDOM AND LIBERATION. It is about LOVE. It is about TRANSFORMATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

Deep breath.

Ok.

I am not sure who will read this. I am not sure people will make it this far. And. If you have made it this far, and your world is rocked? Please reach out.

I am not pessimistic. I have hope. I believe as my Christian friends do – “The Truth will set you free.” And I believe we are currently entering an exodus from spiritual slavery that has existed for 2000 years.

The Torah. The Ten Commandments. Not about control. Not about Hashem sitting on high with a cosmic hammer ready to slam us to hell if we don’t do what He tells us.

He is sitting within us. Around us. Asking us to connect. Wanting to be in transformational relationship with us. He is LOVE. Are we ready to receive?

Because if He didn’t have our attention before? He should have it now.

17But Moses said to the people, “Fear not, for God has come in order to exalt you, and in order that His awe shall be upon your faces, so that you shall not sin.”

Hashem (the Universe, Source, the One Soul – whatever word you want to use) wants HIS (Her, Their) AWE to be ON OUR FACES. They want us to balance fear and safety.

(For those of us coming out of Higher Education? This sounds a LOT like Sanford’s Challenge and Support model, doesn’t it?)

This is the healing balm. Regardless of what a rabbi, priest, pastor, or zealot tells us.

And. As my friend Allen Davenport likes to remind me about Sanford’s Challenge and Support model of growth? The key factor? Readiness. If we aren’t ready, no support and no challenge will help us grow. If we want to be stuck, we will remain stuck.

Here is what Hashem DOES want:

21An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall slaughter beside it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. Wherever I allow My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.

22And when you make for Me an altar of stones, you shall not build them of hewn stones, lest you wield your sword upon it and desecrate it.

23And you shall not ascend with steps upon My altar, so that your nakedness shall not be exposed upon it.’ “

He wants us – to make an altar (*cough* I thought Altars were FORBIDDEN *cough*) for HASHEM.

He wants us to KILL/SLAUGHTER/LET GO OF things that keep us from peace. Shalom.

“Wherever I allow My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.”

DO we believe this?

Can we SPEAK GOD’S NAME without Hashem allowing it?

Sit with that.

We don’t have to live in a prison afraid of sin.

We can live freely and trust our hearts – we don’t DESIRE to sin – and our guilt and shame (and other fears) will likely break relationship with Hashem. And. He will be there for us.

He is there for us. Even when we break our relationship.

This is Hashem. This is Freedom. This is unconditional love.

Take a breath.

This is a tough read.

If you are feeling upset, reflect on why?

Don’t take my word for what I have written here. Google Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. Google Martin Luther.

And – if you want to live in an echo chamber? Focus ONLY on those writings that approach Constantine, the Council of Nicaea, and Martin Luther from a place of apology. From a place of “well yes, that is true….but….”

Our brains can convince ourselves of ANYTHING we want it to.

Hashem just wants us to be free.

Let’s discuss this. I am open to being wrong here. And. I trust the only way this met your consciousness is if Hashem allows it.  If He has indeed allowed it? May you be blessed.

I want to close with the Aaronic Benediction. In Jewish tradition, we say this blessing all the time.  It is the “Priestly Blessing.” Remembering the previous portion (which I posted Friday):

3Moses ascended to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “So shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel,

4’You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles’ wings, and I brought you to Me.

5And now, if you obey Me and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples, for Mine is the entire earth.

6And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

And what I wrote on the short version of this:

1. Remember – we witnessed Hashem’s miracles
2. Listen to Hashem, Connect with Hashem
3. Stay connected with Hashem – see your worth and value (we are treasures)
4. If we do #2 and #3? We will be ministers and holy.

Here is the priestly blessing:

“May the Lord bless you and watch over you. May the Lord cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you. May the Lord raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.” They shall bestow My Name upon the children of Israel, so that I will bless them. (Numbers 6:23)

May we have Shalom. Peace.

Sin is not something to fear. Sin is safe. How we navigate from sin? That is transformative. How we navigate away from sin? That is transformative.

It is NOT transactional.

We are Love.

Here are my thoughts from two years ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts from 20 Shevat, 5782

So let’s close this weeks Parsha with todays portion;

As Hashem was speaking the commandments the people could see the sounds – they were scared and withdrew. They went to Moses and told him that he should speak to the people and not let God speak to them because they will die.

Moses tells the people not to worry; God isn’t like that- He has a purpose here, and we can trust it. But the people were still scared and backed off. Moses approached God.

God said to Moses to tell the children of Israel; “You have seen that from the skies I have spoken with you and I have shown My fire and might down on earth.” He then gives additional commands;

1. Don’t make images of any servants that are with Me
2. You should not make cherubim from silver, rendering them as false; rather they should be made of gold.
3. You should not make more than two cherubim and if you do I will consider them as false gods of gold.
4. You should not make for yourselves a replica of the cherubim in your own synagogues
5. You shall make for Me an altar attached to the earth and you shall slaughter near it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings which come from your sheep and cattle.
6. Wherever I allow My name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.
7. When you make for me an alter of stones, you shall not build them of cut Stones, lest you wield your sword upon it and desecrate it
8. When you build a ramp to My altar, do not make it ascend with steps so that it will look as if your nakedness is exposed upon it.

To close the parsha, the spiritual vitamin from the book I’m reading is this;

“After their liberation from enslavement in Egypt, the Jewish people reached, in a comparatively very short time, the highest spiritual level which is humanly possible to attain, making them all, men, women, and children, fit for Devine revelation at Mount Sinai. You (we), too, can rise from the lowest depths to the Loftiest spiritual heights in a comparatively short time, provided you have the sincere will and desire to do so.”

Thanks for joining me!