Parashat Pekudey- Encountering the Divine

Ki anan A-donai al hamishkan yomam v’eish tihyeh leilah bo l’einei khol beit-Yisrael b’khol-mas’eihem.

For the cloud of A-donai was on the Tabernacle by day, and the fire was there at night, in the sight of the entire house of Israel in all their journeys. (Shmot 40:38)

Thus ends the book of Shemot. Hazak; hazak; v’nit’hazayk. Be strong; be strong, and we will strengthen each other. Thus ends the narrative of slavery. We came out of Egypt a downtrodden people, but we will became strong. We are to be a kingdom of priests, to become more numerous than the sands of the seas or the stars of the heavens. We will become a community of judges and of artists, of law and of beauty. How are we to do this?

These clouds burned with the fires of God within, to be seen at night, but also as a reminder of God’s glory burning within. It illuminates and guides us, but it can also burn us. Moshe glowed so brightly after his close encounter with the Divine that he had to be covered with a veil as he moved within the community. To encounter the Divine presence is beautiful and enlightening, but it can also be overwhelming.

The Rabbis taught: Four entered the Pardes. They were Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher and Rabbi Akiva*. Rabbi Akiva said to them, "When you come to the place of pure marble stones, do not say, 'Water! Water!' for it is said, 'He who speaks untruths shall not stand before My eyes' (Psalms 101:7)". Ben Azzai gazed and died. Regarding him the verse states, 'Precious in the eyes of G-d is the death of His pious ones' (Psalms 116:15). Ben Zoma gazed and was harmed [went insane]. Regarding him the verse states, 'Did you find honey? Eat as only much as you need, lest you be overfilled and vomit it' (Proverbs 25:16). Acher cut down the plantings [became an apostate]. Rabbi Akiva entered in peace and left in peace. (Talmud Haggigah)

What could this have to do with our parasha? How we encounter the Divine Presence matters. It is not scholarship or wisdom that guides us or protects us. Perhaps it is openness to God or an acceptance of that which we do not know. That the Torah does not end here, but continues through Vayikra and D’varim stresses the need to always move forward, to always learn. Rabbi Akiva certainly understood that. An ignorant and illiterate shepherd, he began his learning at age 40 after realizing the power of erosion. It is slow, but if water can penetrate rock, than each of us can be penetrated, however slowly by the mitzvot and the Divine Presence. And so, even if all of us were wise, all of us understanding, all of us knowing the Torah, we would still be obligated to discuss the exodus from Egypt; and everyone [whether a scholar, a wise person, or a layman] who discusses the exodus from Egypt at length is praiseworthy.

---

* These were four great scholars of the Talmud.