Seeing Sounds Not the Colour of One's Face - Parshat Yitro
19/01/2022 08:12:12 AM
Dear Congregational Family,
While many people marvel at the words of the Ten Commandments, one should not overlook the first words which follow the actual text - "All the people saw the sounds and the flashes, the blare of the shofar and the mountain smoking (Exodus 20:15)."
How can it be that the people of Israel "saw" these things? Commentaries abound, including such ideas as: They saw the hail and the stones; saw means meditated; saw means understood; only in the context of Sinai could they see; and much more.
What the people could not see was the actual face of God. Later, the Torah specifically says, "you cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live (Exodus 33:20)."
What an important lesson for us! When we look upon the other, it is not the skin color which defines a person, but rather the values and attributes of the other. Thus, the Israelites saw the ideas of the Ten Commandments immediately after the words were revealed.
This past Monday, Americans celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He embodied the Torah's teachings that I share with you today. While Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in baseball, a less well known name did so in hockey.
Last night, the Boston Bruins retired the number of Willie O'ree. His name should not be confused with Bobby Orr. Willie O'ree, now eighty-six years old, began his hockey career as the first black player in 1958 for the Bruins. Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he wore #22 and started his career at age twenty-two. In his retirement years, Willie served as an ambassador for diversity and inclusion in hockey and the "Hockey is for Everyone" program.
Last night, I watched on Youtube the entire retirement ceremony. I was moved to tears and encourage everyone to see it.
This past week has brought much anxiety following the events of Colleyville Texas. Last night's hockey ceremony, a day following Martin Luther King Day, reminds us to see "the sounds and the flashes" and not the colour of one's face.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Howard Morrison
