B'midbar: A Fitting Time to Enter the Desert

Something has changed these past few weeks. Can you feel it? The days are longer, the weather is warmer, our favorite television shows are airing season finales, school is coming to a close, and the pace of life has somehow slowed down. Even though baseball is only just getting going, the rest of us are all moving towards an off-season; a time for recuperation and relaxation.

Thankfully, that's how life goes. We simply cannot function at our best 365 days a year. We have periods of high efficiency and great productivity, which are only possible because we also have periods of calm and rest. And though sometimes we imagine that the down-time is going to be filled with fun, adventure, and exotic vacations, a lot of it is also catching up on sleep, lounging around, and maybe a little more sleep. Appropriately, we are now moving into a new book of the Torah, which in some ways mirrors our seasonal shift. Last week we finished reading Leviticus, which was a stand-alone book containing all the laws of behavior, ritual, and relationships. The fourth book, Numbers, brings us back to the narrative of the Israelites leaving Egypt, which we haven't read about since book #2, Exodus.

Numbers picks up the story of the Israelites as they march through the desert. But in a lot of ways, the most exciting parts of the Exodus were at the beginning and end, NOT the middle. The Israelites left Egypt with plagues, splitting seas, and God speaking to them at Mount Sinai. They conclude the journey with the conquest of the land, and the establishment of a new nation. But in between, well, it's just 40 years of desert living. Not too riveting, not too flashy, just daily life and the slow, gradual, patient creation of a society. There are some interesting stories in the Book of Numbers, to be sure, but I also believe the main message is that religion is about daily life, not just culminating moments of excitement. Ritual, culture, and community are a part of our everyday experience, not just once a year or at certain lifecycle celebrations.

One way that we see this playing itself out in Numbers is the shift in leadership. Moses was our hero back in Egypt. He brought Pharaoh to his knees, split the sea, and came down from the mountain with the 10 Commandments. Not too shabby a resume! But can the same person be the day-to-day governor? In Numbers we see the mantle of leadership move to Aaron, Moses' brother. As the High Priest, he is in charge of sacrifices, and he oversees the daily rituals of Israelite life. The priest and the prophet simply serve different functions. A society cannot survive based only on occasional moments of celebration; it needs rules and regulations to govern the everyday as well.

Life is about creating balance. Too much work and we burn out; but not enough work and we get stir-crazy and bored. Too much mundane time and we long for some excitement; but too much excitement and we can't wait for a little peace an quiet. That's life! We each have to find the balance that works the best for us, and sometimes you need a little trial and error to get there. Whether you're someone who lives to work or works to live, I hope this summer will be a time of enjoyment, relaxation, and rejuvenation. And of course, plenty of baseball!