Beshalach 5773: Anticipating the Needs of Others

This week marks a significant passage from the first semester to the second.  It is a passage from the challenges and satisfactions or accomplishments that finished the first semester toward new ones in the second semester.  From moments of beginning and harvesting for both learning and relationships toward moments of deepening and extending learning and relationships.

There also are similar passages this week in the Torah portion, Beshalach, from one side of the Sea of Reeds to the other, from slavery to freedom, from silence to singing, from being rooted in one place to being on a transformative journey.   

As we embark on the journey of second semester, one passage (Shemot 13:19) moves the rabbis in Mishnah to affirm the lesson -- middah k'neged middah -- that one’s actions are rewarded measure for measure.  It is a Jewish formulation analogous to the principle of Karma. 

From the life of Miriam the sages of Mishnah learn that middah k’neged middah also applies to kindness, generosity, and good deeds (not just bad deeds).  

In that spirit, I want to share a favorite story often told by my friend Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan.  It’s the story about a famous philanthropist and a poor butcher.

The butcher lived a cold, quiet life.  His butcher shop was small and had few customers.  He lived in a small apartment by himself.  One cold night he died in his sleep.

He died, as it would happen, at the exact same moment that a famous shopkeeper died. But she was surrounded by family and friends in a warm hospital room.

The famous shopkeeper and the poor butcher stood side by side at the gates of heaven and watched in amazement as dozens and dozens of cheering angels approached them. 

Then acting all as one the angels lifted the poor butcher on their shoulders and carried him away with smiles and cheers.  The rich shopkeeper was left alone with just one escorting angel – no lifting on the shoulders, no smiles, no cheers. 

The rich shopkeeper protested, “How can this be?!?  I never met that man but everyone in town knew me.  Whenever people came to ask for charity, I gave it to them.  My name is on plaques and proclamations all over the land.  But not this butcher!" 

The solitary angel escorting the woman asked, “Do the dogs bark at night in your city?” “No,” answered the woman, “in fact, they do not.”

“It is because of that one,” replied the angel and pointed to the butcher being carried on the shoulders of dozens of angels.  “The poor butcher would feed the dogs scraps of meat each night.  You gave when asked, but he gave food even before the dogs barked!"

So, my precious students, as we start a new semester together I encourage you to anticipate each other’s needs, be there for each other even before someone asks for help. Make this a school community where we act with generosity and kindness even before being asked.