From Generation to Generation

Rabbi Melanie Aron

Saturday, October 15, 2005

There was once a king who was nearing the end of his days. He had lived a long and good life and he was satisfied. Only one thing worried him – who would succeed him on his throne.

He had seven sons and they were all good boys and he was not sure how to choose which one would be king. But he was afraid that if he didn’t choose, then after his death, they would fight, and destroy themselves and the kingdom.

So one day the old king called all seven sons into the throne room. He gave each son a bag of gold. “Take this money”, he said to them. “Go out into the world and buy something that is good for a king. Find the most important thing for a king and bring it back to me.”

The sons took the money and went off, each on his own way, to find something important for the king.

After seven days they returned. Each son had brought something back – something he thought was important for the king.

The king turned to the first son and asked: ” What did you buy?

“I bought a horse.”

“A horse? Why a horse?”

“A king must know what’s going on in the kingdom. With this horse you will be able to ride from town to town and hear what the people are saying. A king shouldn’t stay in the castle. He should go out and be with his people.”

“Good,” said the king. “You have made a good choice. But a king needs more than a horse.”

The king called the second son. He had brought the king a sword.

“A king must protect his people,” the second son explained. “ He must guard his castle and his lands. And sometimes he will need the sword to impose justice, because otherwise wrongdoers won’t listen to the king’s command.”

The king was less satisfied with this gift. “Justice will not come with the use of a sword.”

The third son was carrying a heavy bag. “ What’s in the bag?” the king asked.

“Seeds,” the third son said. “A good king takes care of his people. He gives the poor seeds to plant so they will have food in the years to come.”

“Good,” the king said.

The fourth son brought the king a sailing ship. “A good king is aware of the world outside his kingdom. He buys and sells to increase the wealth of his people.”

“Very good,” the king said. “But there are things even more important than trade.”

The fifth son had brought beautiful clothes and a jeweled crown. “People must respect the king,” he explained.

The sixth son had a wheel barrel full of tools. “For building homes and roads and public baths. This is also part of taking care of the people.”

Finally the seventh son approached the king. His gift wasn’t large, it wasn’t heavy, it wasn’t expensive or covered with diamonds.

The seventh son held a small menorah, a small candelabra in his hands.

“Why a menorah?” the king asked.

“The menorah is for the night time. A good king must study at night. He needs to become wise. He needs to learn how to act with justice and fairness. He needs always to continue to grow.”

The king looked at his youngest son – he was so proud of this young boy. “You will be the next king,” he said. “You will sit on my throne and bring peace and prosperity to our people.”

In our Torah portion this week, Moses, like the old king in the story, is nearing the end of his life. He too is worried about the future. He has a successor chosen, Joshua, who has been his apprentice through the years of wandering in the desert.

He has confidence in Joshua, but he is worried about the people. He worries that after he has died they will forget what he has taught them. He is afraid that as they settle in the land of Canaan and become rich and comfortable, they will forget the important things in life and instead chase after empty things. They will have food and drink, but still hunger and thirst for something of more lasting value.

Moses speaks many words to the Israelites, laws and commandments, stories and instructions, but on only two occasions does he speak in poetry. Once at the shore of the Sea of Reeds after the Israelites have escaped their Egyptian pursuers and here in Chapter 32 of Deuteronomy. The Midrash explains that each poem is about survival. The first, the Song of the Sea, is about the people’s physical survival. The second, Haazinu, is about their spiritual survival.

At the end of each of their lives the Patriarchs worried about the survival of the Jewish people into the next generation. Abraham, after Sarah died and he knew his death was approaching, made sure that Isaac married the right woman, who would help insure Jewish survival. When Isaac was old and blind, he wanted to be sure to bless his son and pass on his legacy.

Finally, when Jacob was on his death bed, surrounded by his twelve sons and single daughter, we are told that he too was worried about Jewish survival. Would his children and grandchildren carry on his beliefs. Seeing his concern, his children called to him using the special name God had given him – Yisrael.

“Sh’ma Yisrael, listen Israel, hear father Jacob.
Adonai Eloheinu – Adonai is our God.
Adonai Echad – we accept your belief that Adonai is One.”

Moses’ final reminder to the people is about the importance of Torah. “ It is not an empty thing,” he says,” it is your very life.”

Ashley, Sean & Megan, your parents are young, and your teachers, Cantor & myself, hope to live yet for many years and teach many more Bat and Bar Mitzvah students.

Yet, today as you celebrate your Jewish coming of age, we worry the way Moses’ worried. We are looking for reassurance, just as Jacob did. On this special day we pray, may the words of the Shma echo in your hearts. May you continue to study and learn the heritage of your people. The Torah “ is not an empty things. It is your very life.”