LOOK HEAVENWARD

   Pokemon Go has taken hold of our society, however for me my Pokemon is different than all others.

  It is true that Pokemon is in a search to find certain characters , and I am equally in search.  However, my characters represent goodness and kindness. My search is for a better society and a much more loving relationship between people.

   So let the game begin......

Let us begin our search and in doing so let us inform each other where to look and find our Pokemon of Jewish Life. 

    This week's Parsha relates how בני ישראל , rebelled against Hashem and how they were punished by being bitten by fiery serpents. The Torah, then, continues to tell us how בני ישראל, called unto  Hashem to stop the plague. Here we find a most interesting and somewhat perplexing response by G-d regarding the remedy for the plague.

  Hashem instructs Moshe: עשה לך שרף ושים אותו על הנס, "And  Hashem instructs Moshe to make and form a copper serpent to which וראה אותו וחי, "The Jewish People will gaze upon it and then they will be cured and live."

    One wonders about such a cure and in fact Chazal ask the obvious question, which I am sure is on all of our minds. וכי נחש ממית או מחיה, "Can a mere gazing at a copper serpent heal?" Is this some type of voodoo or magic?

    Our Sages answer, בזמן שישראל מסתכלים כלפי מעלה ומשבדין את לבם לאביהם שבשמים מתרפאים,"When the Jewish People looked heavenward and subjected their hearts to their Father in Heaven they were cured and they lived". 

    From this episode we learn a meaningful lesson as our world is experiencing much hatred and violence. We need to build that symbolical copper serpent to direct our hearts and our minds heavenward towards our Father in Heaven and beseech His help and guidance that will lead us out of this turmoil that engulfs all of humanity.  

   These are times we must utter the prayer that begins with, אבינו שבשמים צור ישראל וגואלו. For only through  greater dedication and commitment to Torah and to  יראת שמים, can mankind survive and blossom into a true צלם אלוקים. 

     Dag Hammarskjold, who was  the Secretary General of the United States, wrote, " Life demands from you, only the strength you possess, only one feat is possible, not to have run away".

     We face life with the Knowledge that our Father in Heaven will continue to guide us as long as we will continue to look Heavenward.