Friday January17,1997                                      Erev Shabbat 

Shvat 9, 5757

Bo (Exodus 10:1-13-16)

Something to think about:

In the course of this week's parsha the exile comes to an end and the
exodus blossoms.  Pharaoh stubbornly holds on to his fantasy that he and
not G-d is in charge.  (Don't we all!!)  After being warned of the eighth
plague (locusts) he tries to make a deal with Moshe.  "Exactly whom do you
mean to go with you to serve Hashem? "(the remainders would serve as
hostages) 

  Moses responded, "With our youth and our elders we shall go ..."(10:8,9) 
 Many interpretations are offered about this response. 

Pharaoh agreed that religious is good for the elderly.  When people are
mature and developed then they should become active in their religious
communities.  But it's not for the young..  Moshe tells all of those who
wish to see the destruction of out people, "No: Participation in
religious service and observation must begin as early as possible."  A
sense of G-d must be part of the child's development so that is will be
an internalized part of ones ethics and morals. 

And for the individual him/her self, one should not say later, not now! 
If G-d is important than G-d must be more than a retirement plan!  "With
our youth and our old age" with our vitality and our experience we can be
active members in this relationship.  Both age groups are important to the
religious community.  Both ages are important to the religious individual. 
There is a rabbinic statement that is appropriate for the community and
individual: 

 Happy are the youth who have the elders as lanterns; Happy are the elders
who have the youth to strengthen them. 

Vitality without experience can be destructive.  Experience without
vitality is stagnant. Moshe knew that as a people and as a person, both
are needed.