The Chrome Gleam On My New Mercedes All Shiny And New (John Barlow & Bob Weir - "Heaven Help the Fool")

Our son is going through a phase that reminds me that he is very typical of most boys here in North America. This phase became quite apparent during our recent visit to Los Angeles for a niece’s Bat Mitzvah. Whenever we walked (a rarity for Los Angelinos), and our son noticed an expensive sports car, or classic car, he insisted that we take a picture. Needless to say he accumulated quite the collection of pictures: Porsche, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Mustang Shelby, Jaguar XS8 just to name a few. In some he actually posed next to these cars, in some the car stood alone. When he saw the car, our son had the same look of awe. When he saw the car, he would always say: “maybe someday”. I would always remind him that it’s just a car, and while certainly an automotive thing of beauty, it is something to be idolized. Yet idolatry, does exist. People worship all types of false gods. Those false gods may be the God of money, the God of secularism, the God of status, the God of Power. We know that these false Gods are not particular to North American consumerism. In Israel, the Knesset is attempting to pass a law that attempts to outlaw dangerous cults. Currently there are nearly 100 cults in Israel to which nearly 20,000 Israelis belong. Even Israel struggles with idolatry.  

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Ki Tissah. Parsha Ki Tissa is divided into several parts. The first part being the commanded to take a census of the population and collect a half shekel for each person counted. The second part is the final blue prints for the Mishkan, the spices that are to be used, as well as the oil that is to be processed prior to burning. God then designates two men, Betzalel ben Uri from the tribe of Judah and Ahaliav ben Achisamach from the tribe of Dan to be the Master Builder and Designer of this national project. God re-iterates the commandment of the Shabbat and reminds Moshe that anyone who violates it will be put to death and his/her soul will be cut off from the people.  The next part B’nai Yisroel commits the sin of the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf): they built and then worshipped an idol. God wants to wipe out the people but Moshe urges God to reconsider. Moshe then descends the mountain and becomes just as upset as God, and he throws down the Shnei Luchot HaBrit – the Two Tablets of the Covenant. After a day or two when calm has been restored, Moshe re-ascends the mountain in order to pray for national forgiveness. Moshe then has an opportunity to experience another personal revelation even more powerful than the Burning Bush; Moshe has the opportunity to witness God’s passing before him. Dictated by God, Moshe chisels the Aseret Diberot into two new Tablets. He then goes back down the mountain. This time he descends with light and glory of God emanating from him.

During the moment when Moshe re- ascends the mountain seeking forgiveness for the people’s idolatrous behavior; Moshe experiences a personal revelation God passes by.  During this moment of apology and this moment of revelation, God re-iterates the covenant.  VaYomer Hinei Anochi Koreit Brit Neged Kol Amcha E’eseh Niflaot Asher Lo Nivre’u V’Chol Ha’Aretz U’VeChol HaGoyim - God said, ‘Behold, I seal a covenant: Before your entire people I shall make distinctions such as have never been created in the entire world and among all the nations.; and the entire people among whom you are will see the work of Hashem – which is awesome - that I am about to do with you. HiShameir Lecha Pen Tichrot Brit L’Yosheiv Ha’Aretz Asher Atah Ba Aleha Pen Yiheyeh L’Mokeish B’Kirbecha- Be vigilant lest you seal a covenant with the inhabitant of the land to which you come, lest it be a snare among you. (Ex. 34:11-12)The lesson of the Eigel Zahav, (the Golden Calf) was that B’nai Yisroel mimicked the indigenous idolatrous people that were living in B’nai Yisroel’s covenanted land.  God reminded Moshe and by association reminded the people that they must not weaken the nature of the covenant. They must not deal with these nations for fear that B’nai Yisroel becomes ensnared (L’Mokeish), trapped, and weakened. How could these idol worshipping nations ensnare B’nai Yisroel? The fact is these nations cannot trap or ensnare B’nai Yisroel unless B’nai Yisroel ceases its vigilance, if they start dealing with these nations, or if they think that peace with these nations will lead to the perpetuation of B’nai Yisroel. From God’s perspective is to remind Moshe that the desire to make peace with those who want to destroy B’nai Yisroel, is not peace but rather will lead to B’nai Yisroel’s destruction.

No matter the country in which we live, no matter the neighborhood in which we reside, we must all be vigilant “lest we become ensnared”; and begin engaging in idolatry. Whether it was B’nai Yisroel constructing the Golden Calf, or our son “drooling” over the myriad of sports cars he encountered, idolatry is directly related to emotion and inversely related to thinking. Idolatry is the result of our passions, wants, and desires. When passion and emotion overwhelm our ability to think, and to reason for ourselves, we become L’Mokeish, ensnared. So the Torah’s call to vigilance is really a call to keep emotion and passion in check by through our intellect.

Peace,

Rav Yitz 

While The Current Fashions Set The Pace; Lose Your Step, Fall Out Of Grace (John Barlow & Bob Weir - "Throwing Stones")

We are in Los Angeles for our niece’s Bat Mitzvah. Even though Toronto’s winter has been quite mild, I admit, that for a few days at least, it is awfully nice walking around in a pair of shorts and a light fleece. However getting here was incredibly stressful. No the stress was not the fault of the airlines, the baggage handlers, the traffic to and from airports, or our accommodations. No the stress was watching my wife and daughters pack. Actually it was even more specific than that. No one seemed to have a problem packing "hanging out"weekday clothing. Actually, that was easy. There is a show on television that my daughters like to watch: “Say Yes to the Dress”. Well watching them try to determine what dress was required for the Bat Mitzvah was worthy of its own television show, perhaps a new show named: “Dad Gets Stress From The Dress”. Weeks before we even left, my wife and daughters began looking for dresses for themselves. “Nothing fits me" or  "I need a dress,” I was told. “The weather is supposed to be 75 degrees, all they have is heavy winter dresses,” my wife explained. “We are only going to look at dresses on sale,” they informed me.  With each successive trip to a store came the long faces of failure and disappointing pronouncements. “This didn’t fit quite right.” “This was ridiculously expensive.” “This would never be worn more than one time.” “We like this one, but couldn’t find shoes to match it.” There was homework to do, chores to take care of, bedtimes that were necessary, and yet all they could focus on was dresses for the Bat Mitzvah. As everyone became more stressed and afraid that they would wear a jeans skirt, a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers to a fancy L.A. Bat Mitzvah, I reminded my wife that she is not the hostess of this party. I reminded my daughters that they already had their own Bat Mitzvah several years ago. I concluded my comments by reminding them that we are only guests, no one is looking at us and no one really cares how we look. So the perfect dress really did not matter. That stress belongs to the Bat Mitzvah, her mother and her sisters, not us. Soon afterwards, the stress from our home was removed and dresses were found, agreed upon and everyone walked away reasonably pleased.

 This Shabbat, we read from Parshah Tetzaveh, and in it we learn about the uniform of the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest. Just like last week’s Parshah was a series of instructions on the way in which a physical space becomes beautified and holy, Parshah Tetzaveh offers a series of instructions on the way in which a certain individual’s physical appearance is beautified, and glorious. From head to toe, we are told that each item of the Kohen Gadol’s priestly uniform is made of fine linen, valuable stones, gold, cotton silk turquoise wool to name just a few of the ingredients. Certainly we could understand the Parshah from a superficial perspective but to do so would be to misunderstand a deeper and perhaps more powerful message. We live in a society where “clothes make the man”, clothes define who and what we are. However Parshah Tetzaveh is teaches us something radically different. Instead of clothing making us look sharper, slimmer, better proportioned, what if clothes could express our intelligence, our emotional health, our sense of decency, the holiness that exists within our soul and the degree to which that holiness is expressed. What would such clothes look like? Such clothes would have to express the degree to which we have permitted God into our lives. Such clothes would have to express the holy magnificence of God’s presence within our lives.

            The Torah is very clear as to the reason for such highly decorative, highly ornate clothing. V’Kidashti et Ohel Mo’Ed v’Et Ha’Mizbeach V’Et Aharon v’Et Banav Akadesh L’Chahen Li – I shall sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the Altar; and Aaron and his sons shall I sanctify to minister to Me V’Shachanti B’Toch Bnai Yisroel V’Hayiti Lahem L’Elohim I shall rest My Presence among the Children of Israel , and I shall be their God (Ex. 29:44-45). God’s presence will make the Tent of the Meeting holy. In other words, God’s presence will make a particular space holy.   Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno (15/16^th Century Italy) explains that God rests among us in order to accept with favor our prayers and service. However, God resting his Presence is not enough. The Kohanim and ultimately the rest of us need to recognize that this is our God and we need to act appropriately. We can never take God’s proximity for granted. Therefore Aaron and his son’s, serving on behalf of the people, must achieve a higher degree of holiness compared to the rest of the people. This higher level of holiness must exist both inside and outside. Any inconsistency renders the Kohen Gadol impure. If the clothes become physically dirty, then he is momentarily impure. If his heart wanders, if his mind is elsewhere, or if he has not completely given of himself to the service to God on our behalf, then he is momentarily impure as well.

            Judaism is about creating opportunities where the physical world seamlessly connects to the spiritual world. In the realm of time; Shabbat is a designated day when the physical seamlessly knits together with the spiritual world.  However, even in the course of a regular day, we have the opportunity through prayer, Kashrut, study, and Gemilut Chasadim for our internal “clothing” to match our external clothing. Sometimes it is very easy to lose sight of what matters. Frequently we focus on the outside. Frequently we forget that we are not the center of attention, and as a result we are not constrained in the same way as those who are the center of attention. My wife and daughters’ dresses merely needed to be appropriate for their age, needed to be appropriate for their own sense of modesty and comfortable. No the dresses were not colorfully “loud” and did not scream “look at me because I need attention”.  Sure everyone looked beautiful, and just like we cover ourselves in nice clothing, we cover our souls in the very beautiful and ornate vestments of prayer and study. Maybe if we explain that to children, then they will learn that clothes don’t make the person, but the person makes the clothes. Meanwhile I have three more nieces and a nephew, so we will have several more chances to not get stress from the dress!

Peace,

Rav Yitz