Two Minute Torah Podcast

Shmot 5772 by Rabbi Paul Drazen

Hi. For Two Minute Torah, from KOACH, the United Synagogue's program source for college students, this is Rabbi Paul Drazen, Chief Program Development officer of the United Synagogue. 

Texts in the Torah are often easy and clear but there are times when a symbol adds an additional level of meaning.

In parashat Shemot, we find a symbolic reference in what appears to be a rather innocuous verse. God has spoken to Moses and convinced him to return to Egypt to meet with Pharaoh. The Torah notes, "So Moses took his wife and sons, mounted them on an ass, and went back to the land of Egypt; and Moses took the rod of God with him."

I'll admit it, I didn't think there was anything extraordinary about that verse. Why would it be surprise that Moshe rode a donkey? Okay, it could have been a camel, but a donkey was a rather good way to get around.  It would be centuries until the jeep was invented.  Use of the donkey didn't seem so out of place at all. But the commentator Rashi shows us an additional meaning because he believed the donkey was really a symbol.

Rashi explained that the donkey on which Moshe rode was special. It was the donkey on which Abraham rode to the binding of Isaac. But more! Rashi noted this donkey will be the one used when the Messiah is revealed.

What was a statement about getting from one place to another now has new meanings. The donkey was more than transportation, it made Moshe a link between Abraham and the end of days. The donkey was more than transportation, it was a powerful symbol. 

Rashi's words reflect Judaism's strong belief in the day when the world will be perfected. While our messianic focus is not at the same level as other religions, not even the same emphasis as in other Jewish groups, the dream of a Messianic age, of perfect peace, is part of our daily prayers.  

But more important than just the prayers and waiting, our dream of messianic days is one of the reasons we do tikkun olam, work to perfect the world.  

Perhaps we are the not one who rides on the messiah's donkey, but we are able to build a world which can become the home of the messiah. When we work to help those in need: teaching people to read, tutoring kids in math, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked – all acts of tikkun olam – we create a world which will be ready for the Messiah - unless we finish the work so the Messiah can arrive and find everything already in place.  

Could Moshe have travelled to Egypt by camel or by foot?  Obviously, with God's help any method would have worked. But Rashi's comment ties our history from its start, to the exodus, to a day of dreams. So even though we don't live in an age where we can take a donkey to classes or work, we certainly can take the message of the donkey, of building a better world, with us where ever we go.