We are all created in G-D’s image. Only when we realize this can we actualize our true potential.
On July 28th 1900 the second to last King of Italy (Umberto) visited a small restaurant for dinner. When the owner took King Umberto's order, the King noticed that he and the restaurant owner were virtual doubles, in face and in build. Both men began discussing the striking resemblances between each other and found many more similarities.
1) Both men were born on the same day, of the same year, (March 14th, 1844).
2) Both men had been born in the same town.
3) Both men married a woman with same name, Margherita.
4) The restaurateur opened his restaurant on the same day that King Umberto was crowned King of Italy.
One day later on July 29th 1900, King Umberto was informed that the restaurateur had died that day in a mysterious shooting accident, and as he expressed his regret, he was then assassinated by an anarchist in the crowd.
In this week’s parsha the Jewish people are on the verge of leaving Egypt and becoming a free nation. As a nation they are given their first Mitzvah- to sanctify the moon. Why is this the first Mitzvah?
Sforno states that G-D is telling the people, from now on your time is yours. When you were slaves your time did not belong to you. Now you are free and your time belongs to you.
Rabbi Akiva states in Pirkei Avot 3:14, “Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of G‑D; it is a sign of even greater love that it has been made known to him that he was created in the image”.
G-D is making known to the Jewish people with this first mitzvah that they are now free. Only once the slave mentality is shed can the Jewish people actualize this great gift of freedom. They must internalize and understand what they have been given or else they don't really have it. This is true of all gifts. G-D not only free’s the Jews in the parsha but he also informs them that they are now in control of their destiny, of their time.
To return to the story of the Italian doppelgangers. Everyone thinks the story is about the king but it is not. The story is about the restaurant owner. Imagine you are the owner, one day you discover that someone exactly like you in every way is the King! Imagine how he felt that night when he went to sleep, how high his confidence was. But it was for naught, he died the next day.
Sometimes in life we don't realize our true potential for greatness/godliness. G-D is telling the Jewish people what a great gift freedom from slavery is and they must be aware of it in order to awaken the force within them. To actualize your potential you have to be aware of your greatness. Just as we should all be aware we are created in the image of G-D and have the potential for true godliness.
On July 28th 1900 the second to last King of Italy (Umberto) visited a small restaurant for dinner. When the owner took King Umberto's order, the King noticed that he and the restaurant owner were virtual doubles, in face and in build. Both men began discussing the striking resemblances between each other and found many more similarities.
1) Both men were born on the same day, of the same year, (March 14th, 1844).
2) Both men had been born in the same town.
3) Both men married a woman with same name, Margherita.
4) The restaurateur opened his restaurant on the same day that King Umberto was crowned King of Italy.
One day later on July 29th 1900, King Umberto was informed that the restaurateur had died that day in a mysterious shooting accident, and as he expressed his regret, he was then assassinated by an anarchist in the crowd.
In this week’s parsha the Jewish people are on the verge of leaving Egypt and becoming a free nation. As a nation they are given their first Mitzvah- to sanctify the moon. Why is this the first Mitzvah?
Sforno states that G-D is telling the people, from now on your time is yours. When you were slaves your time did not belong to you. Now you are free and your time belongs to you.
Rabbi Akiva states in Pirkei Avot 3:14, “Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of G‑D; it is a sign of even greater love that it has been made known to him that he was created in the image”.
G-D is making known to the Jewish people with this first mitzvah that they are now free. Only once the slave mentality is shed can the Jewish people actualize this great gift of freedom. They must internalize and understand what they have been given or else they don't really have it. This is true of all gifts. G-D not only free’s the Jews in the parsha but he also informs them that they are now in control of their destiny, of their time.
To return to the story of the Italian doppelgangers. Everyone thinks the story is about the king but it is not. The story is about the restaurant owner. Imagine you are the owner, one day you discover that someone exactly like you in every way is the King! Imagine how he felt that night when he went to sleep, how high his confidence was. But it was for naught, he died the next day.
Sometimes in life we don't realize our true potential for greatness/godliness. G-D is telling the Jewish people what a great gift freedom from slavery is and they must be aware of it in order to awaken the force within them. To actualize your potential you have to be aware of your greatness. Just as we should all be aware we are created in the image of G-D and have the potential for true godliness.