Moses described to the Israelites their coming redemption.  The Divine heard the cry of the Israelites’ suffering and remembered the covenant that had been made with the forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  When Moses explained this to the people, because of “restricted breath and hard work - mi-kotzer ruah u’mei-avodah kashah” (Exodus 6:1-9), they could not comprehend, or even hear, this promise of deliverance.      

The word ruah means both spirit and breath/wind.  Kotzer ruah most literally means shortness of breath or constricted breathing, but can equally mean deficiency of spirit, a restricted state of consciousness resulting from oppression and the avodah kashah – excessive, difficult labor.   

Sometimes our over-scheduled and frenetic pace of life brings us restricted consciousness. Sometimes natural disasters such as flood, earthquake and fire impose situations on us that lead to stress.  Sometimes grief is so overwhelming that we are not able to stop, breathe and center.   

Moses reminded the Children of Israel, that in the midst of their suffering and servitude, a new order of reality could be born, but they had no hope, only doubt. 
 
As we once again read the Exodus story, let the blessing of this new secular year be our ability to become more aware of those times when stress – kotzer  ruah – affects our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing; and, then, let us be open to the agency of change in our lives.

Rabbi SaraLeya  19 Tevet 5771  December 27, 2010