Desert Gift

Do not see Jacob as a worm.

The strength of Israel is not like the strength of the kingdom of Edom – not by the power of the arm and the sword, but by the mouth of the desert – the ability to come in dialogue with God and man and change reality.

Even when reality stands before us like a cast rock – hard, silent, closed, a heart of stone – we are commanded to speak to it.

Not to strike.

Not to threaten.

Not to coerce.

Striking the rock, even when it seems to bring water – is only a fleeting illusion.

It brings upon us sin – the sin of lack of trust, of idolizing power, of impurity instead of sanctification. This distances us from ourselves and our true nature, from the true destiny given to the chosen people, to be a light to all nations, and to establish Righteousness and Justice in the land.

Instead of striking – we will act, listen, and speak!

We will seek living waters — not by the power of the arm but by faith, humility, and patience.

And thus, the parashah also describes the way:

"From the desert, a gift. And from the gift, Nachliel; and from Nachliel, Bamot."

From the desert — a culture of abandonment and destruction — to the gift,

and from the gift — to the rivers of God,

and from the rivers — to the peaks.

With the help of the God of Israel, even with all the difficulty, abandonment, and destruction,

we will merit and know how to receive the gift of life. We will release the madness and trauma,

we will purify ourselves with water – and ascend together as one people with one heart to the peaks of humanity:

Peace and Truth

Yours,

Nachliel Shilo

Voice of Truth and Peace