Miriam – Adult Reflections
Chapter 15 of Exodus is a very disturbing episode that happens rights after the story of the Red Sea (which, by the way is a mistranslation, because it is really the Sea of Reeds). After the Israelites cross safely, the sea closes on the Egyptians and drowns them. In one of the most quoted passages from the Talmud, God’s angels start singing a song at the sea. God rebuked them, “My handiwork is drowning in the sea and you utter songs before me!” (Sanhedrin 39b). This teaches us that seeking revenge is not a good Jewish value.
One of the most interesting stories I ever heard about the Mossad’s actions in post-war Europe had to do with trying to find Nazi perpetrators. They had an agent, Manus Diamant, who was an extremely charming and good-looking Holocaust survivor who would seduce the known girlfriends (and wives) of Nazi perpetrators and through them find their whereabouts. Apparently he was quite good and successful at it. His biggest fish, however, eluded him. Even though he tried to seduce Adolf Eichmann’s wife, he failed and only managed to became a “friend of the family.” One day, he was alone with Eichmann’s three young boys, all younger than 10, boating in a lake in Switzerland. He decided to kill all three boys, not as surrogates for their father, but just to cause Adolf Eichmann, a small measure of the pain felt by himself and other survivors that had lost all their families. When he asked permission to do it, his request was flatly denied by his Mossad superiors, who said that we seek Justice, not revenge.
The interesting side note to this story is that thanks to the Mossad’s actions, Justice was made possible years latter, when Eichmann was caught in Argentina thanks to the report of a young (Jewish!) woman who began dating one of the sons and turned Adolf Eichmann in to the Mossad.
Have there been occasions in your life where you sought revenge and it worked or didn’t work for you?
Miriam For Younger Children
Miriam is the older sister of Moses. When Moses was a baby, she watched over him and made sure that he was safe with the princess in the Pharaoh’s palace.
Ask the children to consider one or more of the following questions and lead them to a discussion of how they might be able have some regular responsibilities to help with younger siblings or just help around the house.
If you have a younger brother or sister how can you help your Mom take care of them?
Can you teach them songs?
Can you teach them how to tie their shoes?
What can you do to be a very good big brother or sister?
Miriam For Older Children And Teens
After the Israelites cross safely, the sea closes on the Egyptians and drowns them. In one of the most quoted passages from the Talmud, God’s angels start singing. God rebuked them: “My handiwork is drowning in the sea and you utter songs before me!” This teaches us that seeking revenge is not a good Jewish value.
Often in the pre-teen years and as teenagers, we find ourselves being pressured into actions that can hurt another: bullying, gossiping, being rude or unfriendly to a new person at school.
Think of a situation within your circle of friends or at your school where there is bullying or picking on people by gossiping about them.
Why do you think these situations get started?
What keeps them going?
How do you react?
What do you say when your are expected to participate?
Think about the Jewish value of seeking justice, not revenge, and come up with a plan to help stop this kind of behavior when you see it.