Living here in Toronto means
that I probably go a bit overboard with my kids when it comes to U.S. History,
and politics. When our daughter was reading To Kill a Mockingbird, my
wife and I routinely talked to all of our kids about the book, American society
in the Jim Crow south and what America looked like during the Great Depression.
Despite driving my children kind of crazy, I make sure that they follow the
political news as they need to understand the process involved to become
President, they need to know who is running, they need to understand the
nuances of each candidate and each political party. Recently our children were
shocked to hear that the former Grand Wizard of the KKK supported Donald Trump,
and when Trump was asked to disavow the endorsement he hemmed and hawed. Our
three younger children were shocked. One of them commented that even they knew
that the Klu Klux Klan was a bad thing since they hate blacks, Jews, and all
minorities. Donald Trump apparently has a tough time separating himself from
those who hate, from those who are destructive, those who want to destroy those
things that make the United States a noble experiment in democracy. Since Donald Trump never held office and never
had to vote for a specific piece of legislation, never had to make a hard
decision that affected anyone’s life but his own, since Donald Trump never had
to care about anyone else but himself and his family; there is not a record of
public service that permits me to evaluate him. We can only evaluate Trump
based upon his words and at times his lack of words. There are his insulting
words to Hispanics. There is the slowness of his words regarding disavowing the
Klu Klux Klan. There are his words of admiration for Vladimir Putin, for Kim
Jun–un (neither of whom would be considered friends of America). There are his
personal insults to those who ask him policy questions. There are inevitably a
lot of words about himself, lots of words about his wealth, lots of words about
his success. So it is amazing to me, how easily millions of people can be
conned. Trump has only one care and one concern: Trump and the Trump brand. He
isn’t interested in making anything great again except Trump. He doesn’t care
about the Party of Lincoln, nor does he care about a society or a government “by
the people and for the people". Based on
his Trumps words, a Trump presidency would mean that America would do what is
best for Trump. Gone would be a sense that to be an American Citizen means to
is participate in the noble political experiment call “Democracy”. Gone would
be any sense of a society trying to improve itself for all to benefit, so that
everyone as the opportunity for self-improvement and to aspire towards the
American Dream. That is neither American nor is it particularly Jewish.
This
week’s Pasha is Vayakahel. 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. 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. Before they begin the actual execution of God’s
command, Moshe reminds B’nai Yisroel that observing the Sabbath’s restrictions
are paramount and supersede the Mishkan’s, (The Tabernacle) building schedule.
Even though this structure was to be a place for God, the Sabbath restrictions
are more important. The text then begins describing the common experience of contributing
raw materials to this enormous public works project. 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). By participating in this
constructive process, everyone had an opportunity to repent for the sin of the
Golden Calf and for its lack of faith. First, B’nai Yisroel began on the
fringes with its idolatrous activity. Then, and after B’nai Yisroel repented,
it began moving towards the Holy of Holies. First they built the walls of the Tent
of the Meeting; then the altar, and, finally, the Holy of Holies.
Our
children continue to watch the political fall-out from Super Tuesday. They listen
to a candidate who aspires to become the most powerful person in the free world.
They hear a candidate struggle to speak out against the KKK, but praise Putin
and Kim Jun-un, and our kids understand and appreciate that he doesn’t elevate
anyone’ hopes and dreams. They understand that he doesn’t speak a language that
appeals to the goodness and holiness in anyone. Hopefully our kids will
remember this and never fall for this kind of con. Rather they should listen to
the candidate that speaks the language of “community”, of “common sense of
purpose”, and “shared experience”. When that kind of language is utilized and
then put into action and deed, 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.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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