Get Up, Pick Up and Start Again
- Leann Shamash
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Hi Everyone,
Usually at this point in the year I begin a post by saying that these are the summer camp parshiyot, so for those kids heading off to camp in the northeast, you are in for some interesting summer Parsha material!
Although this week we read a double Parsha, Chukat and Balak (It’s catch-up time to the Torah cycle in Israel) this piece is written for Parshat Chukat following the deaths of Miriam and Aaron and the unfortunate incident of Moshe speaking to the rock for water and not heeding Gd’s instructions.
For a quick review of these Parshiyot, please check in with this link for Parshat Chukat and this link for Parshat Balak
I’d like to think of this post for Parshat Chukat as a rallying cry. It’s a recognition that things change, one never knows what to expect and that individuals and the Jewish people need to get back up and keep on moving forward despite negativity, brought to the forefront with the deaths of Aaron and Miriam and Moshe’s disappointment when he is told he will not lead The People into The Land.
Listed below are a number of previous posts on both Chukat and Balak which might lead you in different directions in thinking of these summertime parshiyot.
Shabbat Shalom and happy summer! Have a great time at camp, kids!
Leann
Get up, Pick up and Start Again
Each year at the Passover Seder we recite Dayeinu as a rabbinic ode to thank Gd for the many miraculous occurrences during the Exodus from Egypt and the journey through the first months in the desert.
If I could compose a second chant, perhaps a parallel chant for this Parsha, it might be entitled Get Up, Pick Up and Start Again; in Hebrew קומו, סדרו, קדימה
This mantra would begin with Moshe Rabeinu, Aaron the peace maker, Miriam the prophetess and extend onward in time through following punishments, significant steps backwards and great disappointments in their collective journey.
Perhaps Torah is there to teach us how to deal with disappointments, but to dust off and get back up again.
Get up, Pick up and Start Again
For Moshe- after fleeing to the desert and a new land alone,
To Aaron- After the sudden and startling death of his sons,
Get up, Pick up and Start Again!
To Miriam,
after being banished from the camp.
Get up, Pick up and Start Again!
For Moshe - when he thought he could not rule this group of this people alone
When his voice was not heard by the people and they were stiff necked time and time again.
When his brother and his sister died and he was left alone without his sibling anchors,
To The People, told they would never see The Land.
Get up, Pick Up and Start Again!
This chant speaks to the Jewish people over generations.
Despite downfalls and defeats, disappointments and persecutions, this has been our modus operandi.
Get up, Pick Up and Start Again!
Even when times were dismal, and there have been many such times,
we have risen, dusted ourselves off, picked up the pieces, and kept going,
one step at a time.
It’s amazing how many steps we have taken.
How many times we have been pushed down, only to rise up again and again!
Indeed, we are the proud daughters and sons of the generation of the desert.
There may those who push us,
throw stones, call us names,
accuse us.
Here we stand and these are our words:
Get up, Pick Up and Start Again!
Say it again.
Get up, Pick Up and Start Again!
More From Words Have Wings on Parshat Chukat
More From Words Have Wings on Parshat Balak
On Talking Donkeys and Trixie the Dog
In the World of Talking Donkeys
While I Was Scrolling
Between the Blessing and the Curse
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