We see that some people choose not to be a part of the society in which they grew up. We see this more often in tightknit communities, like the Jewish community, where someone may have grown up in a Jewish home, but as they get older, they might choose a different path. The question is, how does G-d look at this individual?
In this week’s Torah portion, Shmos, Moses asks G-d, When the Jews ask me your name, what should I tell them? G-d responds: I am who I am.
This response is an interesting one, as it doesn’t sound like a name as much as a statement. What does it mean?
The Midrash gives us illuminating insight. I am G-d to those who choose me. And I am still the G-d to those who reject me. The Midrash is telling us, Although there are Jews, and there always will be Jews who will not appreciate the relationship between Me and them, I am still making my commitment to them. I am choosing them! My commitment to the Jews is real.
Now, this is a beautiful statement from G-d, promising that He will never forsake us. However, we don’t have to look far to see that was not the case. Just a little while later when the Jews were allowed to leave Egypt, according to many opinions, a large percentage of Jews didn’t leave Egypt because they didn’t believe in G-d and felt that they had been forsaken! How could it be that they were forgotten? Why didn’t G-d save them even though they didn’t have an appreciation for G-d? Didn’t we just say that it doesn’t have to be a two-way street?
The explanation is that there is a difference between our connection to G-d before the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, and after.
Before the giving of the Torah, each person, including the Jewish people, had the ability to choose to be connected to G-d or not to be. However, at Mount Sinai a unique bond was created between the Creator and the created. G-d was infused within our relationship—not only with a love as a parent has to a child, but our essence became connected to His essence. A bond was formed that can never be severed. G-d became personal to us. We can hide, we can run away, but we cannot cut the connection. We might try, but He will not permit it because He has made a commitment to us.
Therefore, when we say “L’shana Haba B’Yerushalyim, next year in Jerusalem, with the coming of Moshiach, may it happen speedily in our days,” no Jew will be left behind, because we have G-d's commitment to us!
If G-d is committed to us, we too should be committed to Him.