Shabbat Thoughts- Your experience is unique to you

When was the last time you experienced a sense of G-d?

Perhaps it was during an intense, exciting or critical moment in your life such as the birth, recovery from illness or the death of a loved one. It may have been when you enjoyed great natural beauty by visiting mountains, oceans, waterfalls or national parks. Perhaps you were captivated by a moment of great artistic beauty; creating or appreciating grand music, literature, art, drama or poetry.

All of these experiences share a common element; they are deeply personal in nature. Delight by one person over a beautiful sunset does not necessarily inspire a devotee of Beethoven in the same manner.

I think this is how and why Jews invented group worship- recognizing that if one of us may have not sensed G-d- at least we can gain uplift from others. The knowledge that you EXPERIENCED SOMETHING influences me. Without this support we could feel dreadfully alone.

In last week's Torah reading Moses encountered G-d at the burning bush. According to the text, G-d revealed G-d’s very self by name and by awesome spectacle. Yet, in this week’s reading, while Moses is commanded to announce to Pharaoh the impending Exodus, G-d reveals to Moses that G-d appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Why is it necessary to speak of a spiritual experience which occurred generations before? Isn't it enough that Moses encountered G-d in his own personal way?

We do not live in a vacuum. We are social creatures and we share all aspects of life. Just as we work, eat, play, celebrate and grieve together so must we FEEL holiness together. Spirituality is essential to us humans. This is why so many different religious communities have all developed congregations of one sort or another.

Why did Moses need to know that G-d had encountered Moses’s great-great-grandparents? Ask yourself why you need to know ancestors’ demographics or why it is so vital to visit the birthplace of your namesake. We all have an internal need to be rooted to something greater than our own individual self. And when we anchor ourselves to something not easily put into words we provide religious moorings for someone yet to come along.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Steve Silberman