For Ronnie Dubrowin a butterfly moment is one where we push against our outer limits and achieve something far beyond what we could originally imagine. During her talk last Shabbat at the Sisterhood Paid-Up Luncheon, she described the first marathon she had ever competed in. Her daughter had convinced her to try; despite the fact she had never run in any race longer than a 5k. When she came to the finish line 26.2-mile race, she felt as big a sense of accomplishment as she had in her life.
Butterflies, unlike the delicate ways they are often portrayed in our popular imagination, are role models of strength and endurance. Ronnie described the multigenerational journey of Monarchs, thousands of miles from Mexico to Canada at only 6 Miles Per Hour, where only the grandchildren of the original butterflies arrive at their destination. Using wind currents and the sun for a compass, these black, white, and orange creatures somehow figure out where to go. Therefore, a butterfly moment, as Ronnie taught us, is a very big deal.
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira, Abraham and Sarah have multiple butterfly moments. From welcoming angels, to confronting God in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, to the binding of Isaac, our patriarchs are constantly escaping harrowing situations. Like the generational journeys Ronnie spoke about in her talk, the story of Abraham and Sarah is only a start. Their determination and resilience set the tone for the long arduous journey ahead for us. Thank you, Ronnie, for this beautiful teaching, encouraging all of us to fly long and strong like a butterfly.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex