“(JTA) — This past Shavuot, I was teaching the scroll of Ruth when I had a sobering epiphany. I was explaining that the story’s historical context was the time of the judges, a period characterized in the biblical account by a vicious cycle of tribal leaders defeating external enemies only to see their tribes degenerate into brutal violence and anarchy. It dawned on me that there is no period in our past devoid of brokenness. With some exceptions, the Jewish people have always been beset by external conflict and inner turmoil.

I was reminded of this again when reading this week’s Torah portion, Beha’alotcha. The portion describes the Israelites in the wilderness as they prepare to depart from the Sinai desert for the promised land. Everything is carefully choreographed. The tribes with their banners are arranged in order with the tabernacle at their center. Moses creates silver trumpets to help announce to the people when they were to travel. The people even have a divine GPS — a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night — to guide them.

Everything is perfect, culminating in a verse that reflects the elation of a people ready to embark on a sacred mission: ‘When the ark was to set out, Moses would say: Advance, O God. May Your enemies be scattered, and may Your foes flee before You.’ (Numbers 10:35)

And then, to quote W.B. Yeats, ‘things fall apart.'”

Read Mijal’s full article on JTA here.