Moses/Miriam - IEA Reut-Sadqa on 19th May 2008:

The IEA Jerusalem group of Reut-Sadaqa met on 19th May 2008 at the Swedish Theological Institute for its monthly meeting. The theme of this meeting was Moses/Miriam.

During this meeting we had the pleasure of welcoming Nathanael's friend who was visiting and two new members: Adv. Sohaila Dweek and Ms Inam Wahdi, invited by Rafiqa Othman, our Moslem coordinator.

This time we varied a bit our format of the meeting and instead of three presenters, this time each one present shared how Moses and/or Miriam are seen from their religious perspective.

We include here some excerpts from what was shared:

Nathanael Dror:

I chose two Spanish Jewish songs for my presentation concerning Moshe

"Moshe Salio de Mitzraim…" This is an "alabado" format song. Alabados are composed and sung by Catholics, in Spanish lands…the songs always deal with religious subjects, usually connected with Holy Days and Fiestas…

The "alabado" phrase is always the chorus in all of these songs….Jews did occasionally copy the "alabado" song format, but always end the final "alabado" chorus with the Hebrew phrase from Psalms, "Hodu LaDonai"

The song is sung at "The Hagadah" and simply outlines in poetic verse the events in the Biblical narrative, from Moshe's flight from Egypt, and his experiences in Midian with Jethro…the burning bush, the marriage to Tzipporah, etc…

"Mi Pi EL" also originates in Medieval Spain, but reflects the inspirations of the Arabic poetry of that time….each key word in the couplets is in alphabetic order, a very typical style of Arabic-Hebraic Spanish poetry….

The song does emphasize the more positive character traits of Moshe…, Yet we are reminded even in the verses, that it is God and His Holy Torah that surpass all in Holiness.

Hanna Jaffe:

1) Maimonides (c1200) wrote in his magnus opus Guide for the Perplexed section 2, ch 45 that one of the pre-requisites for a person to receive prophecy is that he/she has a total intolerance for injustice.

Our subject this month was Moses, & Chana suggested that the three dramatic incidents about Moses reiterate this rule.

1) he rescues an Egyptian from an Egyptian

2) then a Jew from an Egyptian

3) This is the most interesting episode, because when Moses comes to Midian, & sees the shepherds harassing a young girl drawing water at the well, what does he do? Well, he gets involved to help the her !!!!

Would you get involved in a fight between locals, if you were visiiting a foreign country? MOSES did!!

Hadassah Haskele:

Prophet Miriam, rejoicing after the parting and closing of the Red Sea waters that enabled safe passage, leads a dance. Her teaching -- the joy of gratitude.

Moses, who led his people to freedom and ultimately transmitted The Ten Commandments, a great moral law; is shown to have human failings that led him astray. Early in the Biblical account we learn that in a fit of righteous anger he killed an Egyptian found beating a fellow-Hebrew. Other displays of a short temper are when he strikes a rock for water instead of speaking to it as commanded and when he shatters the first set of Commandmants when he discovers the golden calf idolatry.

Baruch

Moshe, as his very name implies, was drawn out as a baby from the waters of the Nile in order to draw out Bnei Yisrael from the torrents of suffering in Mitzrayim, speak with G-d face to face on Mount Sinai and thereby receives the Holy Torah and teaches it with love to his people .

Rafiqa in the name of the Moslem participants:

The Moslem participants shared about the miracles that Moses worked for his people. Moses was able to prove to his people that he was a prophet. Among some 10 miracles that G-d granted Moses to work was when according to the Koran Moses went to heaven and received the 10 commandments., a request that one person is not able to achieve. Another miracle was the dividing of the red sea when the Israelites were able to flee from Pharoa. The third miracle was when Moses hit the rock and water came out. The fourth miracle was when Moses took hold of the rod and it turned into a serpent. And few other miracles.

There were many more beautiful sharings but these were sent as requested to be included in this report.

After the break Ms. Mriam Feldmann Kaye arrived for a very brief presentation of the materials developed in the Three Faith Forum in London of which she is the director. We hope in the future to have some special time for this latter topic at greater length..

Our next meeting will beheld on 16th June same time same place on the topic of Joseph from our respective traditions.

Report prepared by Ms Rafiqa Othman – Moslem coordinator and Sr. Karmela Farrugia – Christian coordinator

 

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