Sermons & Stories

Shabbat Shalom!

This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Ki Teitzei, has more mitzvot than any other parsha. Most of these sacred obligations speak to how we should treat one another – if something is lost, we return it; we don’t abuse workers; we don’t turn away a slave seeking refuge. The story tonight focuses on that notion of communal responsibility.

The first part of this is mostly true. After the Bar Kochba revolt in the 2^nd Century, the Roman Emperor Hadrian outlawed Torah study. Rabbi Akiva and nine other sages were killed for disobeying. His disciple, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai took Akiva’s place as a teacher of Torah and an outspoken critic of Rome. Some who were sympathetic to Roman innovation reported his words to the government and an arrest warrant was issued.

Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar fled to a cave in the desert. They lived there for thirteen years until the warrant was revoked. Some say that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wrote the Zohar during that time, but that’s probably not historical. The Talmud (Shabbat 33b) shares that Rabbi Shimon and his son became so focused on Torah study that when they left the cave after twelve years, they couldn’t cope with the normal world. Everywhere they looked, people were going about their lives and not studying. The result wasn’t good - everywhere they looked, the world burned until God had to ask them why they were destroying everything.

Also, probably not historical... So, they go back to the cave for one more year and when they emerge, they found a greater sense of balance. Rabbi Shimon learns from this experience and goes on to share a midrash about passengers on a boat (Leviticus Rabbah 4:6). A little way into the voyage, one passenger pulls out a small hand drill and starts making a hole under his seat. After a short time, other passengers notice and start pleading with him to stop. He responds back:

“Why should you care what I’m doing? I’m drilling under my seat. I’m not going to drill under yours.”

All the other passengers are quick to point out that a hole anywhere in the boat would doom them all.

Now I know what you’re thinking… why would anyone drill a hole in a boat? Perhaps he was thirsty. Perhaps he needed to wash his feet. Perhaps he was bored. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai doesn’t explain. He was, however, the right person to offer this important teaching.

Rabbi Shimon knew what it was like to be right. He knew the rightness of Torah and Torah study. He cared so much for it that he was about to destroy everything around him – because he was right. He was that man drilling the hole, the one that was so focused on one thing that he hadn’t thought about how it would impact everyone else. The extra time in the cave helped him remember that life is about more than being right. Life is about more than one individual task. Life requires balance – between my needs and the needs of my community.

It’s a story that seemed relevant and applicable to any number of issues that we’re facing - people are drilling a lot of holes in boats and the water’s rushing in. Our actions impact others. So when you can, bring awareness and healing and balance. In order to care for ourselves and others, we need more of that.

Shabbat Shalom.