Let's see with our heart these things our eyes have seen -Rober Hunter/Jerry Garcia "Blues for Allah"

For the past week, I have been glued to my television watching the historic events unfold in Egypt. For the past week I have been reading news stories and editorial comments of “experts”, “talking heads”, and columnists about the historic events unfolding in Egypt. As I am watching, or reading, each of my younger children ask me what is happening. “Why are so many people gathered there?” “What is a revolution?” “What do they want?” “Will the leader do what the people want?” It is interesting to note that so little, if any, of the Egyptian turmoil has had anything to do with Israel. Rather something far more powerful is at work here in the hearts and souls of Egyptians and many Arabs throughout the Muslim world. For far too long, the Arab populace has lived under repressive regimes. For too long, the Arab populace has been ruled by dictators who have been allies to the west or mullahs who are allies of the Islamists. Far too long, the Arab populace has been alienated from their own societies. For many decades that alienation has been directed outward, to Israel, and to the West. However, when a man who owned a pushcart in Tunisia expressed his alienation and disappointment with his country by engaging in self-immolation, Arab anger, alienation and disenchantment was finally directed inward. What makes the events in Egypt so powerful is that for the first time in nearly two generations, the Arab population, aided by the internet, twitter, and cell phones, has made it very clear that it wants more responsibility when it comes to determining the future of their own lives, their own circumstances and their government. The Egyptian population wants to have a greater stake in their own lives and the welfare of their society. It is this groundswell for a more responsive and democratic form of government that I find so revolution. What happens in the future is anybody’s best guess, but right now it does not appear that the Egyptian people want to simply exchange one type of dictatorship for another. Rather it would appear that the Egyptians want some type of representational government that is responsive its needs.

This Shabbat, we read from Parsha Terumah. In it, Moshe has re-ascended the mountain in order to receive the laws, and the blueprint, if you will, for the construction of the Mishkan, the portable tabernacle, that will eventually permit B’nai Yisroel to gather, to make offerings to God, and to provide a physical dwelling for God. Terumah goes into tremendous detail about every aspect, and every conceivable detail of the Mishkan’s construction and decoration. Before all the details are presented for construction and decoration, God commands Moshe to tell B’nai Yisroel that the funding for this vital public works project will come from each individual, V’Yikchu Li Terumah Mei’eit Kol Ish Asher Yidvenu Libo Tikechu et Terumati – They shall take for me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him, you shall take my portion (Ex. 25:2). The holiest spot within the community, the most sacred area is based upon each and every individual apportioning a percentage of their assets to the construction of, decoration of, and maintenance of the Mishkan. How incredibly equitable! Everyone is involved and everyone has a stake in the outcome.

Each individual had to look within him/herself and be brutally honest. Each individual would give as they saw fit. This was a sacred moment between the individual and God, and the individual and his/her community. The object was not to give due to social pressure but rather for the holiest of reasons. However such a process requires tremendous honesty. Such a process requires us to be sure that our outside matches our inside. Such a process forces the individual to “mean what you say and say what you mean”. Such a process forces the individual to not only “talk the talk” but walk the walk”. This message is subliminally hinted at when we read about the design of the Aron, the Ark that is to hold the Shnei Luchot Ha’Brit – the Two Stone Tablets upon which are written the Ten Commandments. V’Asu Aron Atzei Shitim – they shall make an Ark of acacia wood (Ex.25:10). V’Tzipitah Oto Zahav tahor Mibayit U’Michutz T’Tzapenu V’Asita Alav Zeir Zahav Saviv – You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without shall you cover it, and you shall make on it a gold crown all around (Ex. 25:11). It makes sense that the outside of the Ark is covered with gold since that will be viewed by the people. However what is the reason for lining the arc with pure gold from the inside? Rabeinu Chananel, the 11^th century North African Talmudist, comments that this arrangement symbolized the Talmudic dictum that a Torah scholar must be consistent; his inner character must match his public demeanor, his actions must conform to his professed beliefs. However there is no reason to limit such sentiment to Torah scholars. Kol Ish Asher Yidvenuy Libo Tikechu et Terumati – every man whose heart motivates him you shall take my portion. Every man should be motivated to be consistent. Every person’s actions should conform to his/her professed beliefs, and his or her beliefs should be expressed by behavior.

For too many decades, the Arab people have been repressed and the reason for the repression has been because of ‘external forces’, such as Israel, Western Imperialism, or the fear of information technology. For too many decades, the Arab people have wanted a decent life, enough food, gainful employment, and the possibility of a better future. For too many decades, the inside desires and wants of the population have not matched the repressive regimes that have governed Egypt, Tunisian, Yemen and anywhere else where there is Arab unrest. Now, finally, there is an opportunity for the Egyptian people match their insides, with their outsides, to take greater responsibility at the possibility of a future and to have a greater stake in the governance of their country.

B’shalom,

Rav Yitz