We are members of a very unique synagogue, called Kol Sasson.  It is an egalitarian minyan. This means that although it is

orthodox in its service, the men and women lead equally.  This is not the norm.  Usually only the men lead orthodox

services.  We also do not have a specific rabbi to always lead services.  The members all step up to lead.  This means that

each Shabbat I am surrounded by super smart, extremely well read and very independent thinkers, both men and women.

It is a very inspiring way to spend Saturday mornings.

This past Shabbat, I gave the D’var Torah.  (this is like a sermon in Christian terms).  In Judaism we read a certain portion

of the Torah each week.  Jews all over the world read the same portion on the same day.  So I was speaking on the story Bo

in Exodus.  This begins right before the plague of the locusts.  I will share what I said here:

Listening to all of you give D’var Torah here over the past several months has been very inspiring.  Each one has

been so thoughtful and unique.  You also all sound very smart.  The way you pull from all different sources and tie

it all together.  One of the things I love about Kol Sasson is that we don’t rely on just one storyteller, one point of

view.  This format of taking turns and stepping up to share ourselves makes it feel much more like a discussion

than a monologue.  It is Collaborative storytelling.  

So when Rebecca asked me to take a turn, I was deeply honored and horribly intimidated.  I really wanted to be a

part of this story but knew I would have to cover some distance and conquer some fear to get there.  At least, this

is the one part of the service that is in English.  That part I felt confident I could do!

So I began.  I read Bo very carefully.  I read different commentaries.  I tackled Aviva Zornberg and Rabbi Hirsch.  I

began to write.  

It was a complete flop.  

I realized as much as I would like to get down in the weeds and come up with something brilliant sounding, it

wasn’t gonna be me and it wasn’t gonna work.  I had to work my own system of putting the books away and

listening to what comes from the heart.  Then find the courage to share it.   

When I put away the books, crumpled up my drafts and sat quietly, the first word that rose up was    STORY

We learn through stories.  We remember through stories.  We heal through stories.   We connect  through stories.

We create through stories.  We ARE stories.  

All our photo albums are an attempt to capture and remember our stories.  When we sit together with friends over

a meal we connect through trading stories.  People come to me in therapy to heal their story.     

Exodus is not just a powerful story.  It is the greatest story of all time.  It is the original story of Freedom.  And it is

OUR story.  

This is so important that God takes great care to teach us how to create and tell this story as it unfolds.  

God first shows us how to  be intentional about our story.  God tells us what he is going to do throughout Exodus

and then he does it.   The lesson I take from this, is that it is not enough to just think about my story and enjoy it

for myself as a fantasy.  I must set my intentions and then put them into action.  

God  teaches us is that we all have the right to a story of freedom.  That oppression is created from fear and that

story NEVER ends well.   It may take standing up to bullies to defend that right.  We may have to be fierce.  For

ourselves and others.   It is never too late.  Even if we are 80 years old, we have the power to stand up for

freedom.  

God shows us that when we create our story out of fear, we create the very thing we fear.  Pharoah was afraid of

a leader rising up to free the Israelites,  so he acted in ways that helped create that very thing he feared, within his

own house.  

The Israelites were a whole nation and complete generation of people who were raised with fear as their task

master.  They lost their gift of creating their story of hope and freedom.    They could not remember how.  So God

had to come down and show them.   God had to create and leave for us a lasting story.  A guide how to create our

story.  One that would not be forgotten, but passed down for generations.  

Even Moses,  the hero in the greatest story of all time, was burdened with fear and doubt all along the way.  Just

when it seemed like fear and doubt would win the battle inside  Moses, encouragement and support showed up.

Either from Miriam or Aaron or God himself.  

Before the locust plague Moses has doubts about how this story is  going to turn out.  God reassures him by

making a distinction.  It is here that God says, I have hardened Pharaoh’s heart.  He makes it clear that he is still

the story teller.  HE is in charge of this story.  And where Moses’s imagination for what is possible  is limited,

God’s is not.  

He explains that is important to imagine, intend, create and tell a story so powerful that it will be told and

remembered for generations.  It will serve as a lamp to light the way through the darkness.

We even get very explicit instructions on how to re-tell the story through the Passover Seder.  Down to what to

eat, how to sit and what to wear.  

God is telling us, and at the same time showing us first hand the power of creating and telling our story.  A story

powerful enough to  beat back slavery, fear, darkness and even death.  

Do we contain this power?  The power to create a story of miracles and wonders?  A story that can overcome fear

and oppression?  A story that can beat back darkness and even death?  

I would argue yes.  We have a spark of God within us.  Not only do we have the ability to create through story.

But it is our right.  It is our heritage.  It is our responsibility..  And it is necessary for Tikkun Olam.  

There are modern day stories all around us.   Those who created their own powerful story.  Nelson Mendella, Eli

Weisel, Victor Frankle, Mother Theresa,  just to scratch the surface.  I am sure you can think of several without

even working too hard.   

These people are not different from us.  They are not figments of our imaginations.  They are real.  It is not that

they are immune to fear, anger, hatred or doubt.  What makes them the  narrator of their story is that took these

enemies head on.  They faced down fear with strength and faith.  They conquered hatred with hope.  They

refused to be enslaved.  They believed in the right to freedom.  They created light out of darkness.  Not just for

themselves but for all of us.  And that story is so powerful that it will be told for generations.  

So how do we face our fears and find the path to freedom?  How do we create our story and bring forth our

miracles into the world?

I am still working on this piece myself.  I am trying to hear the lessons given to us in Exodus.  I am looking my fear

in the face to find the clues to my slavery.  To where I am not free.

I was afraid to speak to you today.  But I decided to face down that fear and do it anyway.  Every time I thought

my doubt and fear would win, Rebecca was there to encourage me.   I was afraid to go back to work after 17

years of being a stay at home mom.  My imagination was limited as to what I could possibly create as a career for

myself.  Leah Rubin loaned me her imagination.  She Believed in what was possible, when I could not.  And then

what was created was was even bigger than that.   

We all have the right to be free.  

We have the spark of God within us to create our story of freedom and faith.  To bring forth our miracles into the

world.

We need to dream our story as big as we possibly can.  Where our imagination is limited, God’s is not.

It will require we look our fear in the face.  It is the clue to where we are enslaved.

We must consciously set and share our intentions then enact them.

We may have to stand up to bullies.  Even if we are 80 years old.  It is never too late.

And when it looks like fear and doubt might win–we must encourage each other.

Shabbat Shalom