By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO –This month’s Midrash Shabbat teacher at Tifereth Israel Synagogue will be Sarah Shulman. A student at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles and a triathlete, Sarah is also my AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Intern.
Many people who read the publicity for this weekend were surprised to learn that I had an intern. I must admit that I casually included that tidbit to pique curiosity.
This year AIPAC leadership recognized the need to educate college students and young adults about Israel’s accomplishments and contributions to the world and her quest for peace with her neighbors. This led to several initiatives, including bringing several thousand students to the annual AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., and establishing the Leffell Israel Fellowship for rabbinical students. I was honored to have been invited to participate in the Leffell program and was asked to mentor Sarah.
The AIPAC Internship is of limited scope because it only focuses on Israel advocacy and education in synagogues, as to opposed to general rabbinic issues. Sarah and I shared telephone conversations about Israel before meeting up at the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Subsequently, I invited her and her husband, Nate, to join us this Shabbat so she could experience Tifereth Israel “in action” and be introduced to the congregation.
As you will discover, Sarah has a fascinating background. She is the first rabbinical student I know who is also an elite Ironman triathlete. Since most of my exercise consists of trips back and forth between the t.v. and fridge, I, at first, found her accomplishments quite intimidating!
Although people usually don’t think of Jews as being athletically gifted, we do have a long and glorious history of living in the great outdoors.
This week we begin reading sefer B’midbar, the Book of Numbers, which details the wandering of the Israelites in the Sinai desert on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Rabbi Elimelech of Lihensk taught that the phrase, “in the Sinai desert” hints to us that human beings must lead their lives in ways that are as modest, humble, and lowly as the Sinai desert. When God chose the mountain upon which to give Israel the Torah, God did not pick a large or powerful mountain, but rather Mt. Sinai, which was small, low, modest, and unassuming. From this we learn that living life with humility leads us to better appreciate the blessings we receive and leads us to living a more generous and giving life.
Rabbi Elimelech cautions, however, that we must not take this notion of humility and lowliness too far, lest we come to feel worthless, sad, and depressed. The Shechina, God’s Presence, does not dwell where there is sadness.
The Torah enjoins us to live life with happiness and joy so that the Shechina will always be with us. What is the best way to experience joy in one’s life? By celebrating Jewish holidays and special occasions. Only love of God and adherence to God’s mitzvot can bring true happiness into one’s life.
I hope you will join us on Saturday to experience the Shabbat Shalom, Sabbath peace, and to learn about Sarah’s personal odyssey, from Iron Man to Rabbi!
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Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted at leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com