A word of Torah:    
         This week we read the story of Moses as he begins his transformation into a leader. He is shepherding his father-in-law’s flock of sheep in the desert when he turns aside to see a burning bush that is on fire and seemingly not consumed (Ex. 3:2). What is telling here is not that he notices a bush that is on fire, but that he pays attention long enough to see that it is not burning up. We can imagine others passing by and seeing a bush aflame. They might wonder how it caught fire as they continue on with their business. Moses stops and watches the miracle unfold. There is an important message for all of us here about taking the time to notice what is happening around us and giving it more than passing attention.
        In the conversation with God that ensues, God tells Moses to return to Egypt and free the people. With deep humility, Moses responds: “Who am I that I should go? (Ex. 3:11). He doesn’t see himself as the right choice and suggests reasons why he is not worthy and in so doing becomes the paradigm for the prophets of Israel who when called by God respond with reluctance. The humility reflects an understanding of the heavy responsibilities that come with leadership.
        In the midrash (Gen. Rabba 39:1), there is another instance of something on fire that is not consumed. It is told of Abraham that he wandered from place to place until he came across an enflamed palace (birah doleket). He wondered who the owner might be of this palace. The owner looked out and said: I am the owner. This is a parable of Abraham’s spiritual search for God. In the rabbinic imagination, the world is the palace. God looked out and said to Abraham: I am the owner—now go forth/lekh lekha. The palace and the burning bush are metaphors for this world, a place of problems and brokenness—on fire. It is also a world shining with the light of enlightenment and insight. It is not only Abraham and Moses, but each of us who is called to be responsible for this world.
        Our world is a birah doleket—on fire with an epidemic, discord, injustice and more challenges than can be counted. The easy path is to ignore what’s right in front of us and to resist change. When Moses called on the Israelites to leave Egypt, at first, they rejected him and instead embraced the status quo. Why choose slavery over freedom? The Netziv, a Torah commentator, says they were overwhelmed not by their labor but rather the knowledge that it would be a long and difficult struggle to freedom. So too for us. After these many months of fear and isolation, we need to join with those leaders who are paying attention in order to make the flames of this world burn with hope and healing.