With Purim having come and
gone, with the weather finally breaking the freezing mark and snow beginning to
melt, we actually could smell a bit of spring in the air. Another clear
indicator occurred each morning this week as we heard birds chirping as we
prepared to leave for work and school. Perhaps the clearest indicator occurred
the other day when our son and I watched scenes of spring training for our favorite
baseball team. Granted, we hardly recognized half the players, and we know that
our team will be lucky to have a winning season. Yet we both enjoyed watching
these baseball players go through the process of becoming a team, of working
together and striving for a common goal.
This
week we combine the final two Parshiot, Vayakahel-Pekudie, and complete the
Book of Exodus. Following the sin of the Golden Calf and Teshuvah (repentance),
B’nai Yisroel begins executing God’s instructions for the Mishkan, the Ark, and
the Tent of the Meeting. You will recall that when God gave these instructions
to Moshe, God started from the middle of the Mishkan – the Aron and worked out
to the walls of the Tent of the Meeting.
When B’nai Yisroel begins the building process, it begins with walls of
the Tent, and then concludes with the altar and finally the Ark. After the destructive behavior of worshipping
the Golden Calf, B’nai Yisroel comes together, and shares a common constructive
experience bound by a common goal. Their goal is to complete the construction
of the Mishkan. The common experience is their contributions of raw materials. V’Yavo’u Kol Ish Asher Nasahu Libo V’chol Asher Nadvah Rucho- Every man whose heart inspired him came; and
everyone whose spirit motivated him brought the portion of God for the work of
the Tent of the Meeting, for all its labor and for the sacred clothing (Ex.35:21).
The Or HaChaim explains that there were types of givers: those whose “spirit
motivated them” to give what they could afford, voluntarily and wholeheartedly.
However there was a second category and perhaps an even nobler category of
people whose “heart inspired” them to do more than they could afford since
their desire to share in the building of the Mishkan was so incredibly
powerful. Their desire to undo the damage of the Golden Calf was so strong they
were inspired to an even greater degree. Whether part of the first or second
category of givers everyone who donated something participated in this
constructive process, everyone had an opportunity to repent for the sin of the
Golden Calf and for their lack of faith. If viewed as a process, B’nai Yisroel
began on the outside of its relationship with God, struggling to connect to God
by means of idolatrous behavior. After
its repentance and with the completion of each aspect of the Mishkan and the
Ohel Moed; Bnai Yisroel began moving towards the Holy of Holies. They started
with the walls of the Tent of the Meeting, and finished with the ark. They
started where they were capable and as they continued to spiritually and grow
and develop they were able to move to the next aspect until finally concluding
with the Aron.
For
the vast majority, we approach God in a similar way. As we become inspired, we
come to Judaism. As we become motivated, we dedicate a greater portion to God,
both in terms of tzedakkah and time. It is very rare when our motivation or
dedication comes as a result of a “bolt of lightning” or some existential
metaphysical sign or wonder. No, our motivation and dedication is a result of
our recognition that there is something missing in our lives. We miss meaning
and purpose in our lives. We miss contentment in our lives. We miss peace in
our lives. Certainly we can be happy without meaning. Certainly we can be happy
without contentment. Certainly we can be happy without peace. Why? Happiness is
rather fleeting and quite often it is the result of some external factor.
Meaning, contentment and peace are ultimately internally influenced and far
less fleeting. Our movement towards God,
our movement towards greater observance, is a series of steps. We don’t begin
as a Tzaddik observing all mitzvot.
Rather, one mitzvah leads to another, learning leads to more learning
which eventually leads to doing.
We
learn several vital lessons from these Parshiot. First, we learn that Judaism
requires two parties, God and B’nai Yisroel. Both must exist together in a
balanced relationship. When God and Torah become so far out of reach, B’nai
Yisroel will become alienated and turn to idolatry, such as the Golden Calf,
crass materialism, money or some other type of “God”. When B’nai Yisroel fails
to elevate itself in Kedushah, in holiness, then we fail in our dual mission:
make our lives more meaningful and spiritual; “be a light among the nations”.
However when we enter into a highly participatory and shared communal
experience, such as building the Mishkan, or any project or program that we
build, we must sacrifice some of our personal needs for the well being of the
community. Second, we learn that when the community shares a common sense of
purpose, something wonderful happens. We achieve that balance between God and
ourselves. The result, of course, is that God will dwell among us. God’s
dwelling among us makes our community a little warmer, a little kinder, and
more significant. Third, we also learn that the actual process of building
requires hard work. Greater participation makes the experience that much more
meaningful and more rewarding. What is the reward? The reward is a community
that shares simchas and tsuris, victories as well as defeats. The reward is
that no individual member of the community should ever feel alienated and
alone. The reward is a community that strives for growth and improvement. This
brings more meaning to the life of the individual, the family, and the
community. Of course, our son still wanted to the prize for the raising the
most money.
Peace,
Rav
Yitz
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