In the negotiations between Moshe and Pharoh leading up to the eighth plague, Makas Arbeh – the Plague of Locusts, Pharoh asks Moshe who would be leaving Egypt to serve Hashem. He responds, “Binarainu uviz’kainainu nailaich, b’vanainu uviv’nosainu…- With our young ones and our elders we will go, with our sons and our daughters…” (10:9). Moshe’s message is clear: the entire nation, young and old, women and men, even their possessions, is essential for establishing the proper framework for service of the Creator. Each one has a role, and the worship would be incomplete without the participation of the totality of Am Yisrael. As we know from our experience at Mount Sinai, “k’ish echad b’lev echad - as one individual, with one heart.” The true greatness of our People can only be realized with the full participation of its adherents, with all of our glorious differences intact. Something we all need to remember.

Have a great Shabbos.

P.S. On Shabbos, February 11^th, Congregation Israel will be hosting a Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim alumni Shabbaton. If anyone can please house some of our guests, please let me know. Thanks so much.

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