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UPCOMING:
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6.6 "HARLEM SHABBAT SING"
6.19 "UNDER THE BRIDGE"
9.2015 HIGH HOLY DAYS
2015-2016 BEINEINU LEARNING GROUPS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS
AND NOW FOR SOME TORAH...
B'ha-alotecha
Numbers 8:1-12:16
Like every parasha, there is a lot going on. God is giving Moshe a ton of instructions to pass on to the Levites. My favorite is that the Levite will start work at age 25 and finish at age 50. Can you imagine? Forced retirement at age 50? Today, the average age for retirement is about 75.
There is a section where Miriam speaks "negatively" of her brother, Moshe (she didn't approve of the woman he married) and is punished by God, with leprosy and sent out from the Israelite camp. FYI: Aaron also spoke "negatively" of his brother but God did not strike him with leprosy. Rashi says it's because she spoke first. "Fair or not fair? - Talk amongst yourselves."
Our focus this time around:
Chapter 8
I read through the beginning of the portion rather quickly paying no attention to the beginning. What's significant or special about lamp lighting?
But, I kept returning to the light. And then it "dawned" on me (pun intended), "B'ha-alotecha" is translated as "when you light", referring to the menorah. But it is also related to the verb "lha'alot" which means to "raise up", "lift" or "elevate" (just like in the word "aliyah" - when you "rise up" to the Torah or "rise up" and move to Israel.)
The instructions around building the lamps, lighting the lamps and keeping them light are another set of tasks related to the mishkan, which is eventually replaced by the Temple. Everything is about service, praise and devotion to God. Everything is about raising up God. Part of establishing a "one God/one people" religion, had to include clear guidelines for how to show gratitude and praise in exchange for Divine protection.
We no longer have the Temple, or the lamps or even Levites to light them, but the power to "light", to "raise up", to "lift up", remains in our hands. In the Bible the responsibility rested in the hands of the Levites. Today, it rests in the hands of every human being. Once again, I am brought back to the first story in our Torah, the story of creation. Every human is created in the image of God. This means that every human deserves to be "raised up". When we raise up another person, we raise up God. Elevating the soul of a person, elevates God. Lifting the spirit of another, is lifting the spirit of the Divine.
How will we "light up" the face of the other?
Mekor Ha'chayiim, Source of life, as we move into another Shabbat, as we claim another gift, another opportunity for rest, for reflection, may we be reminded of our capacity, privilege and responsibility to light, raise and lift up the soul of humanity and in so doing, we will light, raise and lift up the soul of the Divine.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach (a restful and blessed Shabbat),
Laurie
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