Parshat Shemot 2026: Rediscovering awe

A story is told of the great Rabbi Sampson Raphael Hirsch (Germany, 1808-1888). It is said that late in his life, the old rabbi surprised his students by scheduling a long trip to Switzerland. When they inquired about why he insisted on making such a journey, he replied: “Soon, I will stand before the Almighty. I will be held answerable to many questions. But what will I say when I am asked, ‘Shimson, my son, it is true you did many mitzvot, but did you also remember to see My Alps?’ ”

Hirsch, I think, is pointing us to a radical, though not so new, theology – a religion that doesn’t just want us to follow the rules, but one which encourages us to drink deeply from the wells of possibility, beauty, wonder and potential good that make up our world. 

One striking example we find in our parshah in which we follow Moshe at the burning bush:

• And Moses said: I will turn aside now and see this great sight (Exod. 3:3).

• The midrash comment: R. Johanan held that Moses took three steps forward. R. Simeon the son of Lakish insisted that he did not step forward at all but simply turned his neck to observe it. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Because you troubled to look, be assured you will merit that I shall reveal Myself unto you. Forthwith, And God called unto him out of the midst of the bush (ibid., v. 4) (Tanchuma Exodus Shemot 15:2)

What does awe mean to you? To me, I describe awe with words like wonder, sacred, inspiration, vast and reverence. Awe is a place, like nature; it is a feeling, like gratitude; it is a gift, like holding a newborn baby. Awe can be many things to many people. The first step in understanding the power of awe is to identify and appreciate what creates awe in our lives. Then it’s important to consider how often we experience it. And finally, and most importantly, does it even matter?

Dacher Keltner in his book “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life”, writes about awe:

“The feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends our current understanding of the world.”

This could be the view from the top of Mount Everest or making a trip to the Grand Canyon.

The benefits of experiencing awe are not limited merely to the sublime feeling of wonder, or even to the lifestyle changes that may occur because of re-evaluating one’s priorities, such as smoking cessation. It is a shift of perspective that promotes ethical concern, open-mindedness, prosociality and generosity. Finding awe benefits physical and mental well-being.

Awe is therefore not only a valuable experience for the individual but a prerequisite for our collective sociological and psychological well-being. Best of all, it can be induced at will through simple mindfulness exercises, such as reflecting on nature or gratitude, in a manner that will literally change your brain, body and behavior. The benefits of awe are truly awesome.

One of the wonderful things about awe is that it can be found all around us, whether it be through a moving piece of music, a beautiful image, or learning something new, maybe even mind-bending. With little effort and attention, we have the immediate power to elevate our own everyday experiences into something, well, magical.

It is likely the bush that burned but was not consumed had long stood there. Many people may have passed by, glimpsing something unusual at the edge of their vision, but no one looked again. They continued silently, unmoved and unamazed, lowering their curtains and walking as if nothing had happened. The main lesson: even when faced with miracles, people may choose to ignore them.

The great rabbi and philosopher Abraham Joshua Heschel’s message is more alive today than ever before. “Wonder, or radical amazement,” he wrote, “is the chief characteristic of the religious man’s attitude toward nature and history.

RABBI DANIEL KRIPPER is the spiritual leader of Temple Shalom in Middletown.