Rabbi Konigsburg's Blog

As I was aimlessly driving the streets of Sandy Springs trying to get my son to fall asleep in the back seat, it dawned on me that it’s quite strange to drive around aimlessly without a destination in mind. Usually, from the second I get into the car I have the route planned out; either in my head or on the GPS. Turn left in 500 ft, then turn right. Done and done. But when you are driving just for the sake of driving, where do you go? I considered getting on the highway, but that seemed too uncertain. What exit would I use to turn around to head home? How far was I willing to drive? Should I just stick to the neighborhoods I know? Is this street a dead end? Driving aimlessly can be a little unsettling.
 
In Parshat Bahalotecha, the Torah describes the cloud and fire that would guide the Israelites in the wilderness. During the day, the Israelites would follow this cloud and would only stop when the cloud stopped moving and settled on the Tabernacle, symbolizing God’s spiritual presence in the camp. Similarly, at night, a fire would lead the Israelites and would signify where and when to set up camp. The Torah relates that sometimes the cloud and fire would rest on the Tabernacle for a day, or a week, or even years.  For as long as the cloud and fire were resting on the Tabernacle, the Israelites made camp. And from the moment the cloud or fire departed, the Israelites packed up and followed suit.  
 
I imagine that it must have been a little unsettling to be waiting around for the cloud or fire to depart and move. How long are we going to be encamped here? Is it even worth unpacking the boxes? Should I plant some flowers in front of the tent? And then when the Israelites were on the move, how long were they to journey? I can even imagine the kids complaining: “are we there yet?”
 
There is a certain sense of comfort that comes from knowing where we are going and how we are going to get there. It makes our lives a little more predictable and gives us a little more control of the future. But as is often the case in life, we sometimes go through transitions that jostle us and make us a little unsettled. We become like Israelites that are wandering in the wilderness following the wisp of cloud and spark of light, or an Abba trying to make his little son fall asleep in the car. This Shabbat, it is my prayer that when we find ourselves wandering, either literally or metaphorically, we can find the cloud and fire that guides us. That we can know that even when things are uncertain, we have the ability to keep our eye on our values and goals, and make it to the next stop - where the Divine presence also stops, and dwells amongst us.