Last
weekend and this weekend millions of and millions of Americans suffering from
the exhaustion that is the drama of FBI Investigations, Senate confirmation
hearings, Trump-care, alleged collusion with the Russians; found solace and
will seek solace from a bunch of university age young men playing basketball.
Indeed, for a college basketball fan, these final two weekends in March are a
great time of year. Last Thursday sixty-four teams began the tournament and by
the end of this weekend, four teams will play for a national championship. It
is truly some of the most competitive dramatic and exciting basketball. More
importantly it is a wonderful escape from the constant and overwhelming flow of
political news out of Trump administration. In order to win the national
championship a team must win six games in a row. In order to win these final
six games of the season, each individual must put aside his ego, his own
individual needs and accept his responsibility and his obligation to the team.
Each individual must fulfill his role even more effectively and efficiently
than during the games leading up these final six games. Each individual must
decide that the common goal of the team is the most important goal. Everything that can be done to fulfill this
goal even if it means diminished personal satisfaction and glory must occur
otherwise there is no hope of a championship.
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, 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). By participating 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 repentance,
and with the completion of each aspect of the Mishkan and the Ohel Moed; B’nai
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 Tzedakah and time. It is very rare when our motivation or
dedication comes as a result of a “bolt of lightening” 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 purposefulness 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 “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 commons 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.
B’nai Yisroel, like any team shared in the difficulty of the task. 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.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
No comments:
Post a Comment