Adath Israel San Francisco | Modern Orthodox Synagogue in San Francisco | A Welcoming Shul and Jewish Community

This is my G-d and I will Glorify Him

This Shabbat we will have a guest Rabbi – Rabbi Levi Potash from Mid-Peninsula Chabad in Redwood City. Rabbi Levi was born and raised in London, England, studied in Yeshivas in London, Israel, and New York, and received his Rabbinical Ordination from the Central Chabad Yeshiva in Brooklyn, NY. He interned at the Jewish Community Center in Budapest and the Chabad Center in Hawaii.  Additionally, he was a Roving Rabbi in far-flung communities across the globe, from Turkey to Estonia to Panama and everywhere in between.  Rabbi Levi studied under the famed Kabbalist, Rabbi Yoel Kahan, and has lectured across the country on the practical application of Kabbalah.  Renowned for his insight and sincerity, Rabbi Levi enjoys sharing his love and knowledge of Judaism with Bay Area Jews. In 2020 he was certified as a Sofer.  

In this week’s parasha we read “The Song of The Sea” (Shirat HaYam).  The song was sung by Moshe and the Israelites after their crossing the Red Sea in safety and celebrates their freedom after generations of slavery and oppression by the Egyptians. 

The second verse of the song states: “Zeh E-li ve-anvehu,” “This is my G-d, and I shall glorify Him,” (Exodus 15:2). Not only does this verse serve as the source of the title of a popular book written by Herman Wouk years ago, but it also provides, in kernel form, a useful and comprehensive blueprint for Jewish life and living.

1. Rashi interprets “ve-anvehu” as related to “noi” or beauty. We are required to glorify God by proclaiming His beauty and praiseworthiness to all the inhabitants of the world.
2. The Talmud (Shabbat 133b) has a different explanation. It also understands “ve-anvehu” as being associated with beauty, but not to G-d’s beauty. For the Talmud, the reference is to the beauty of God’s commandments, the mitzvot. “Act beautifully in His presence via [the performance of] mitzvot. Make before Him a beautiful sukkah, lulav, shofar, tzitzit, and sefer Torah. Write it with a beautiful pen by a master scribe and tie it with a beautiful wrapping.”
3. Abba Sha’ul says (Shabbat, loc.) that “ve-anvehu” is meant to evoke “ani ve-Hu,” “I and He.” It obligates “I” to act like “He.” Just as “He,” namely G-d, is gracious and merciful, so should we human beings be gracious and merciful.

Three important components of Jewish life are being underscored here. 

First, we are to recognize G-d’s role in the world and not be self-conscious about articulating that recognition. Acknowledging the centrality of G-d in the world has become more common nowadays (especially in Israel) with people saying “Baruch HaShem” (thank G-d), “Eem Yirtzeh HaShem” (if G-d wants), “B’ezrat HaShem” (with G-d’s help), or just simply in English “Thank You Hashem.”

Second, we glorify G-d by observing His commandments with beauty and joy, sitting in a beautiful sukkah, shaking a beautiful lulav, buying beautiful: tefillin, mezuzot, kiddush cups, candle sticks, chanukiyot, etc. We demonstrate our love for our religion and G-d by performing mitzvot in the most beautiful way possible. 

Third, be a mentsch, - behave in a caring and sensitive manner to all of humanity, old and young, healthy and ill, needy and wealthy, Jew and Gentile alike. 

“This is my G-d and I will glorify Him!”