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The Covenant Between Ha'Shem (G-d) and the Jewish People

The principles of Jewish faith have at their center Study of Torah (the Five Books of Moses). Central to Torah is the Covenant between Ha'Shem and the People (literally, "The Name," used in place of G-d so as not to inadvertently take The Name in vain). The central lesson of Torah that has come across to me is that no matter how hard we might try, at times we will doubt, we will fear, we will struggle, we will turn away from the Covenant and Ha'Shem. However, we can return (T'Shuva); we can embrace the struggle for meaning, acknowledge our fears, wrestle with our doubts. And, Ha'Shem reveals through the struggle.

Ha'Shem makes several covenants with the Jewish people, although the Covenant comes at Mt. Sinai. And the people have broken these covenants, turned away from Ha'Shem, and, through redemption, returned to Ha'Shem several times. Ha'Shem first gives Adam and Eve all of the Garden (Pardes), with a couple of simple rulesa promise of paradise in return for simple obedience. When they break this covenant, Ha'Shem makes them mortal and sends them out from the Garden. Strike one. I won't even go into Cain and Abel.

The next major covenant comes after destruction and redemption. The people of the world have grown corrupt. Strike two. Only Noah is a good man, and that relative to "his generation." After the flood, Ha'Shem promises not to destroy the world with water again. We are reminded of this covenant, according to tradition, when a rainbow appearsthis is Ha'Shem's sign that Ha'Shem will keep that promise.

Ha'Shem makes a covenant with Abraham and Sarah: worship the One God, don't sacrifice humans, listen to Ha'Shem, go where Ha'Shem sends you, and Ha'Shem will make them fertile and populate the land with their descendants. Ha'Shem promises them deliverance to a land, although it takes some time for the people Israel to get there. Not to mention Sodom and Gemorah.

Jacob is next. Jacob negotiates with Ha'Shem more than the others, to date, but again, Ha'Shem promises to take care of Jacob and his descendants if Jacob follows monotheism and does as Ha'Shem wishes. Jacob and Ha'Shem negotiate the deal, and Ha'Shem keeps the covenant thus made, taking care of Jacob's people, providing for them in drought, allowing them to prosper. Even apparent loss (Joseph's apparent death) turns out a benefit (food during drought). All goes well, at least until after Jacob and Joseph die.

The people did well in Egypt, and

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