Inspiration Moved Me Brightly (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Terrapin Station")

           During the long family day weekend in Canada and the Presidents Day weekend in the U.S, I took our son to Washington D.C. and visited his sisters. Two of his sisters live in and around DC and one lives in New York City. As we were leaving, we had to bring his New York City sister to Union Station so she could catch a train back to New York. It was very early Sunday morning and we decided to stop and look at the various monuments and memorials that are on the Mall. All week long we had been following the news of the events that continued to unfold in Ottawa and the crisis that is unfolding in Ukraine. The world seems a bit darker and more frightening. The morning was cold and clear as we looked at the various memorials and monuments, read the inscriptions, and contemplated the sacrifice of people who believe in the idea of Democracy. At the Lincoln Memorial, directly behind the statue, we read  "In this Temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Directly behind the Lincoln memorial, the road takes one over a bridge and into Arlington National Cemetary. Both sanctuaries reminded us of the sacrifice that is sometimes necessary to preserve an idea. As my son and I drove back across the Potomac River and onto the highway bound for Toronto, we commented on the courage of these people and we also commented on the courage of people to leave their home countries for a better future for their children, grandchildren, and their legacy. Why else would people come to North America, and settle in Canada and the U.S. if not for a chance at a better future?  

           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 is 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).  Ibn Ezra, a 12th Century Spanish commentator, explains that the phrase “whose heart inspired him”, is a reference to the “wise-hearted”. These were individuals who were motivated by their minds and not by emotions. After seeing the disastrous results of the Golden Calf, wisdom and not emotion was indeed a better motivator. 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. Only insight and wisdom guided B’nai Yisroel to begin on the fringes from the outside of the Mishkan and begin working towards repentance, towards holiness, and towards the Kodesh Kodeshim (the Holy of Holies). 

          Those who participated in the construction of the Mishkan had a powerful sense of responsibility. Indeed, being a member of a purpose-driven community requires individuals to be “wise-hearted”, thoughtful, and informed. As my son and I left Washington DC and began our drive back home, we understood that Judaism and liberal democracies are purpose-driven focused upon an ideal, not a person.  Both Judaism and liberal democracies required informed, wise-hearted, thoughtful community members. Both Judaism and liberal democracy is only as strong as their community and citizens are informed, wise-hearted, and inspired to create “the most perfect union”.

Peace,
Rav Yitz

My Words Fill The Sky With Flame; And Might and Glory Gonna Be My Name (John Barlow & Bob Weir - "Estimated Prophet")

          The province of Ontario finally declared a state of Emergency as it began the process of breaking up the occupation at the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor to Detroit and connecting Canada and the U.S. with approximately $50 million dollars a day in trade. Yet despite the ongoing removal of the trucks, many people remained protesting. The protesting has continued in Coutts, Alberta where protesters closed that bridge between the two countries. The protests have spread to France, Australia and there is concern that a convoy has left California heading towards Washington. Organizing and funding these protests have come from the same right-wing organizations that fueled the pro-populist, anti-democratic message of politicians that supported the January 6th Washington D.C. uprising. Each of these protests and demonstrations represent a minority of each country’s respective population. Despite representing a minority opinion, each reflects the dangers of the mob or populist movements.

          This week’s Torah portion is entitled Ki Tissah. Parsha Ki Tissa is divided into several parts. The first part is the command to take a census of the population and collect a half-shekel for each person counted. The second part is the final blueprints 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 reiterates 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.  In 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 the light and glory of God emanating from him.

          During the moment when Moshe re- ascends the mountain seeking forgiveness for the people and Moshe experiences a personal revelation and watched God pass by; 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.  According to Talmudic Sages, each Yom Kippur allows each generation to atone for that tragic mistake.

          It takes great courage to stand up for one’s beliefs. It takes even greater courage to confront leaders when standing up for one’s beliefs. B’nai Yisroel’s leaders succumbed to the mob. Their desire to mimic Egyptian idolatrous practices is a manifestation of succumbing to those who were most anxious and fearful of Moshe’s absence and led B’nai Yisroel down a dangerous path for which the Jewish People people continue to atone on Yom Kippur.  In watching the leadership of the Conservative Party, and the Provincial leadership’s attempt to cater to and side with the mob instead of the law, order, and democracy; they make the same mistake other leaders do when trying to placate the mob, and they are led down a dangerous path that could ensnare and damage democratic institutions form many generations to come.

Peace,
Rav Yitz  

Standing In The Clothes You Once Wore (Bob Dylan - "It's All Over Now Baby Blue")

 For the past couple of weeks, Canada has experienced a loud minority publicly demonstrating against vaccine mandates, mask mandates, and any other public health mandate for the sake of their “freedom”. As my son and I watched the news coverage of truckers occupying Ottawa, demonstrating in downtown Toronto, along the border in Alberta, Quebec City, and other parts of Canada; our daughters called us to tell us that this “trucker demonstration” has made the national news in the U.S. and even the local news in New York City. As the days passed and we continued to watch what was occurring in Ottawa, our son commented that these truckers were starting to look like some of the same types of people who appeared at another national capital, protesting their general unhappiness. He noted that the appearance began to change when he started to see Confederate Flags, Nazi flags, and swastikas at the trucker demonstrations. He noticed the appearance began to change when one western  Conservative leader went to speak to the truckers and commented that they were just like his neighbors. Indeed, it seems that below the surface of the “trucker protest” there is a very different type of uniform.   

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 Clothes express our likes, our dislikes, as well as express our “brand” and even how we wish to be identified. However, what if clothing were a symbolic expression, an indicator of 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?   Parshah Tetzaveh teaches us that clothing, our exterior can serve as an expression of spiritual holiness.  The Bigdei Kehuna -The Priestly Vestments express the degree to which the Kohen Gadol must permit God into his life in order to achieve the requisite level of Holiness to serve the people as well as establish the appropriate environment for God Shechina (the godly Aspect that dwells among the people) to dwell in the Mishkan. 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 (15/16th 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 sons, 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. No, there is nothing wrong with protesting against disagreeable policies. Such expression is one of the protected rights and one of the privileges of living in a liberal democracy. However, there is a difference between the trucker and the typical clothing a trucker wears while on the road, protesting public health policies, and the trucker who wears a cap with an emblem of the Confederate flag or has the Confederate Flag on his truck, and swastika flag next to the Canadian Maple Leaf. Suddenly, the trucker's clothing has been "accessorized with symbols of a darker and far more sinister message. Just as clothing can elevate the soul, some uniforms and symbols can diminish the soul and express a blight upon the soul.

Peace,
Rav Yitz

Look Through Time, It's For Sure, It's The Greatest Gift To Man (Willie Dixon, Bob Weir, & Rob Wasserman - "Eternity")

          I remember when I was a college student (approximately 35 years ago) the end of January and the beginning of February marked the time of year that my father made arrangements for the payment of 2nd-semester tuition. Also, this was always the time of year that I told my parents and grandparents about my 2nd-semester courses. Twenty-one years after I graduated,  our eldest daughter headed off to University. The pattern continued. Around this time of year, I made arrangements for 2nd-semester tuition to be paid. Thankfully, we set aside a portion of savings for college/university. Our eldest daughter would dutifully call me, her grandparents and great-grandfather, and tell us about her 2nd-semester courses.  Back then, when I would speak to our eldest daughter’s grandparents, and great-grandfather, they would kvell with pride, saying “it is money well spent to see our grandaughter/ great-grandaughter thrive at university.” Despite the U.S. dollar price tag, I agreed with them.  Now, thirty-five years after I graduated from college, the grandparents have grown older and the great grandfather has been deceased for nearly ten years.  Two more daughters both attend university and the family has been setting aside a portion of savings. Once again, as January concluded and February began I made arrangements for two 2nd semester tuitions to be paid.  Both daughters routinely call and speak with us (the parents) and their grandparents, telling us about their classes and college life. Whenever I speak to our kids' grandparents and we talk about how their college-age granddaughters, both grandfather, and grandmother “kvell”, beaming that “it is money well spent to see their grandaughters intellectually and emotionally thrive. Despite the steep price tag, I agree with them. 

          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. If you are an architect, or if you are an interior decorator, this Parsha goes into tremendous detail about Mishkan’s construction and decoration. More than anything, this Parsha is all about fundraising, financial development, and a  community getting behind a concrete common cause as opposed to the shared experience of revelation or shared words of the law.

          Before all the detail 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. All this fundraising success occurs as a result of Yidvenu Libo- literally, he will donate according to his heart. This is not a tax. These funds were to be raised by voluntary donations. The Or Hachayim (Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar 18th century Moroccan Talmudist, Torah Commentator, and Kabbalist) explains that three phrases, three expressions correspond to three degrees of “gifts”/ “donations”.  He explains that the phrase: Mei’eit Kol Ish, from every man, appears superfluous. The verse could have easily been written without it so that the new verse would have read: They shall take for me a portion from anyone whose heart motivates (from anyone willing to donate), you shall take my portion. Why is the phrase necessary? The verse speaks of “Terumah -gift” and “Terumati – my gift.” The term “my gift” cannot be used except when the donor has done so willingly. The donor could not have been coerced. According to the Midrash, this Mishkan, this “mobile worship station” was a form of atonement for Golden Calf (Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim 1:5). This phrase “from every man” indicates that each individual person made a donation (an offering) above and beyond the designated “atonement tax”.  “From every man” also indicates that economic station and social status were irrelevant. The motivation was based upon “one’s heart” and not some external authority.

          The value of setting aside “a portion” was meant as a mechanism for B’nai Yisroel to participate in the relationship with God.  For a family, setting aside a portion as a gift towards children and grandchildren’s college education was instilled by my grandfather. He never went to college. He barely went to high school since he had to help support his family. He used to explain that the greatest gift he received was witnessing and listening to his children and grandchildren become educated adults. I think he would be proud to know that his legacy continues. Parents and grandparents continue to experience nachas, (joy and pride) in witnessing and listening to children and grandchildren become university-educated adults. Indeed, the ability to give them “their” gift has been an incredibly meaningful gift for us.  

Peace,

Rav Yitz