parsha bit: Shemot

When God speaks to Moshe from the burning bush, he first says "I am Ehyeh asher ehyeh" and later says to tell the Israelites "Ehyeh sent me". Chazal ask why the change in name. Rabbi Yaakov ben Abina said that when God made the first statement, he said to Moshe "I am with your people in their current troubles and I will be with them in their future troubles", and Moshe objected. It's bad enough that they're slaves now, he said; you can't also tell them that there will be times as bad ahead! God agreed, and thus just "Ehyeh" in the second statement -- I will be with them now. (Midrash Rabbah, Sh'mot 3:1)

ritual dress

velveteenrabbi wrote an interesting article about being visible in one's faith. She, as a liberal Jew in rabbinic school (and chaplaincy), wonders whether she should wear a kippah (or some other sign of her faith) all the time, or if that would give wrong impressions, and she wonders about the reasons for doing so. (I recommend reading the article.)

( I've had similar thoughts )