2.26.16 "For Goodness Sake"

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Parshat Ki Tisa

Exodus 30:11-34:35

This is my favorite Torah portion.  That's right!  If I could only have one Torah portion, this is the one I would choose.  It's got everything!  

Mt. Sinai+two Tablets+major freak out+Golden Calf+God's anger+Moshe's anger+

two smashed Tablets+Moshe's compassion+two new tablets

READ THE ENTIRE STORY  but in the meantime, here's the recap:

The Israelites are still wondering in the desert - the wilderness - the unknown place of mystery and wonder.  Moses is on top of Mt. Sinai getting the first installment of the Torah. He is supposed to return in 40 nights.  Aaron is in charge.  It's the 40th day and the people, not remembering that he is supposed to return at night, freak out.  This isn't an "I can't find my keys freak out."  This is an "I left my cell phone (AKA my soul) somewhere in JFK." @#$%!!!!! [Side note:  this actually happened to me but that's another story.]

The Israelites are out of control and start yelling at Aaron.  They feel abandoned and totally lost.  Not only can't they see their [supposed ]God, but now they can't even see their leader. Everyone seems to be falling apart.

Aaron takes control (sort of) by coming up with what he thinks is an absolutely ridiculous idea that the Israelites will immediately reject.  Aaron commands all of the women and children to bring their gold earings to be melted into a god.  Not only do they not reject this idea, but EVERYONE contributes.  Women, children, men and even Hebrew slaves race to bring their gold.  They bring so much that Aaron has to tell them to stop.  

What's he going to do now?  He has to go through with plan in order to keep the people calm or at least distracted.  Aaron fashions a golden calf and the people seem to be comforted by the presence of this idol.  It's familiar.  Remember, in Egypt, they were used to worshipping multiple gods and idols (this was the practice for all people at this time).  

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, AKA up on Mt. Sinai, God is putting the finishing touches on the Torah.  God sees what the people have done and is furious.  God tells Moshe that the deals off.  But Moshe reminds God that a Brit is a Brit.  Once it's made, it's forever - no matter how badly the kids behave.  God calms down and Moses begins to descend, tablets in hand.  As he draws closer to the camp, he hears the partying below.  Then he sees it and he is so angry he hurls the tablets and they shatter.  [Side note:  as a punishment for creating the golden calf, it's melted down and then the Israelites are forced to drink it!]

Moses goes back up the Mountain.  A Brit is a Brit.  Once it's established, it's forever.  He needs to get a second set of tablets.  This time Moses writes the tablets.  Before he descends, he asks God for a favor, he wants to see God's face.  Moses has been working hard for a very long time.  He and God are very close.  Today we would call them "BFF's" and they would each wear 1/2 of the heart necklace as an expression of their deep love for on another.  All this time and yet, Moses still hasn't seen God.  

God wants to honor the request but knows that it will be too much.  Instead God tells Moses to cover his face.  God will pass by and then tell Moses to remove his hand enabling him to see God's backside.  THIS IS THE REASON I LOVE THIS TORAH PORTION.  God's backside is called "Kol Tuvi" - All of my goodness.  There are many aspects of God that are revealed in the Torah and in this Torah portion; rage and regret are just two.  However, when it's time for God to choose the one that is most important, God chooses goodness.  God leaves Moses with goodness.

This is gorgeous!  What a powerful teaching.  Leave 'em with goodness.  

We are complex beings with many attributes.  Some more pleasant and appealing than others.  No matter what happens, we should always try to leave people with "Kol Tuvi" - All of our goodness.

What would that look like?  What would it sound like?  What would it be like if everyone left one another with all of their goodness?

Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat let us think of the many ways we share our goodness with others.  Let us dedicate Shabbat to leaving our goodness behind for others to absorb.

Shabbat shalom,

Laurie

2.19.16 Eyes Open

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This past week I had the privilege of attending the Achinoam Nini concert at the Skirball Center. Achinoam, was born in America to Israeli parents.  She grew up in Brooklyn and at the age of 15 decided to move on her own to Israel.  She is a renowned artist who has sung all over the world, including the Vatican (8 times). Her lyrics are in Hebrew and English. She often takes Israeli poetry and sets it to music.  Achinoam is married and has 3 children. GOOGLE her.  

I also had the privilege of attending a talk at the 92nd StY, by journalist, author, and creator of the very popular sitcom "Arab Labor", Sayed Kashua.  Sayed is an Israeli-Palestinian.  He decided to leave Israel with his wife and 3 children and is currently teaching at the University of Illinois.  The decision to leave was very difficult and very painful.  He doesn't know when or if he will return.  His new book, "NATIVE", is a collection of his columns from Haaretz newspaper.  GOOGLE him.

Achinoam and Sayed were raised under completely different circumstances.  Achinoam grew up in the world of American access and privilege. When she moved to Israel, she experienced the same access and privilege afforded to all Jews.  Sayed grew up in a world where equality was not a given, where human rights weren't something one could just assume.   Sayed was the only Arab in his school.  He was constantly bullied by Jews and Arabs who didn't support the decision to attend a Jewish school.  

Both expressed frustration, anger and heartbreak towards the current crisis* in Israel. Worried that things will continue to get worse. Both talked about the importance of inclusion.  They promoted opening our eyes to learn about the other, to accept the other and to embrace the other. 

I can't think of a more important teaching as we move into Shabbat.  Let us all take a moment to really recognize the other.  Let us all do something, one thing to engage the other with kindness and respect.  

Shabbat shalom,

Laurie

*Americans often use the word "situation" but that seems too mild.

2.12.16 STILL IN OUR HANDS

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Parshat Terumah

Exodus 25:1-27:19

The portion opens with:  

1"The Lord spoke to Moses saying:		אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2"Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.		בדַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כָּל־אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־תְּרֽוּמָתִֽי:
3And this is the offering that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper;		גוְזֹאת֙ הַתְּרוּמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּקְח֖וּ מֵֽאִתָּ֑ם זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֽשֶׁת:

and continues to outline in detail what should be brought.  There is an immediate tension; on the one hand, God says (and I'm paraphrasing):  "Hey Mosh, tell the people to bring me gifts - but only if they want to."  And then God says (and I'm paraphrasing again):  "And here's all the very specific stuff they should bring, different colored thread, animal skins and precious metals just as a start."

Why?  Why?  Why?  And in Hebrew, we would say "Lamah?"  

Why does God begin with what seems to be a pretty clear statement that only the people who are compelled to bring gifts should bring gifts and then immediately follow that statement with a long list of specific gifts these "heart inspired" people should bring? Remember that HUGE experiment God is putting into motion - the one where ONE GOD and ONE PEOPLE establish an eternal covenant (a covenantal relationship if you will)? This section of the Torah marks the formal transition from Polytheism to what will be termed Monotheism forever.  This section of the Torah describes the shift from God as "outstretched arm" and "spoon feeder"(as described in the first story of Creation) to God as the "One who dwells within."  The "One who walks alongside."  In last week's Torah portion, God gave the Torah to the Israelites.  This action established the Israelites as God's only people and in turn, Adonai as the only God of the Israelites.  Last week, IT was put into our hands.  God gave each of us the capacity to develop the wisdom and skill necessary to build the world we want to live in.  Adonai promises to reside within each of us - FOREVER - as we tap into our free will and make choices that will either elevate or diminish, help or harm, create or destroy.  

God does all of this knowing that it will take a long time (a very very very long time) for humanity to appreciate and value the tremendous gift of having IT in our hands.  God knows the Israelites cannot move from the mindset of a slave to that of a free man in a split second (or in one splitting of a sea).  It will take time, a lot of time for the Israelites and the nation that becomes the Jewish People to honor and safeguard the awesome gifts which has been bestowed upon us; the gift of being able to create the world as it should be.

As a result, in this week's Torah portion, God first wants to establish the fact that despite having given us a whole lot of laws, the first thing God gave us is FREE WILL. This remains more powerful and more important than any laws.  Activating our free will, engaging our ability to choose is the most important part of being human.  We received this through God's breath and demonstrate ability and capacity through ours.  However, knowing that it will take a long long time to inhabit the mind of a free person, God offers a multitude of specific offerings.  This eliminates any worry of getting it wrong or messing up.  We all know how stressful it can be when we are just buying a gift for a loved one.  Can you imagine the anxiety experienced over buying a gift for God?  By providing a detailed list of what to give, God is meeting the people where they are at and moving them into the first stage of owning their free will. First, each person gets to determine if his/her heart is inspired to bring.  Then, she/he can decide which of the items, how many of the items she/he wants to offer.  It's a win win. God receives and the people are choosing.  

In fact, this might be the very first time the Israelites are making a choice.  "Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu, Melech ha'olam, Shehechiyanu v'kiyimanu, v'higiyany lazman hazeh." - My translation:  Blessed One, You are Adonai.  We are grateful for the life we have been given, for acknowledging the effort required to sustain this incredible gift called life, and for the ability to get ourselves to this exact moment in time.  Amen!  Amen!  Amen!

This first choice is the foundation for all of the individual and collective choices that have happened since.  Can you imagine?  What if the Israelites would have decided they didn't want to choose?  What if they would have decided or wouldn't have been able to engage their free will, their power to choose?  What if God would have decided NOT to put IT in our hands?  Afterall, God had to have also known that we wouldn't get it right some of the time.  But, God did choose to put IT in our hands.  We have the power and the ability to create the world as it should be.  Let's!

Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, we are grateful for all of the Shehechiyanu moments past, present and future.  May we never take this precious gift of life and the awesome power that free will enables, for granted.  

Shabbat shalom,

Laurie

2.5.16 "With These Hands"

Parashat Mishpatim

Book of Shemot/Exodus 21:1–24:18

Last week was a huge turning point in the story of the development of Monotheism and in the development of the relationship between Adonai and the Israelites.  On the advice of his father-in-law Yitro, Moshe put judges in place to handle all of the matters/complaints/issues that would arise among the Israelites.  Moshe establishes a structure for handling conflict and resolving disputes.  He put the building of community in the hands of the people.

At the same time Adonai gave the Israelites the first iteration of the Torah thus putting the building of community into the hands of the people.  

The shift is HUGE.  Prior to these two events, God and Moshe do everything for the people.  They anticipate and take care of all of their needs.  The Israelites are not involved in any of the decision making or any of the implementation.  Everything is done to them.  This was appropriate while the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt but this would not be sustainable nor appropriate for a free people.  

Both, Adonai and Moshe make the shift simultaneously.  They both appreciate the need to begin putting "IT" into the hands of the people.  Whatever this "one God one people" situation will be, will be up to the people.  Whatever the structure of leadership for this people will be, will be up to the people.

We enter Parashat Mishpatim with Adonai continuing to give laws around damages and the treatment of indentured servants.  Adonai is not letting go of the "if...then" nature of the relationship with the Israelites.  Adonai describes wonderful outcomes "IF" the Israelites abide by all of the laws and obligations.  Adonai also describes the opposite "IF" the Israelites choose not to abide by the laws.  "IT" is in their hands.  They have a choice. Afterall, if we look back into parashat B'reishit (the very first portion in the Torah) we are reminded of the fact that when Adonai created human beings, Adonai included free will. The Israelites are not robots or puppets.  They are free thinking individuals.  Granted, it's going to take a little time for them to embrace this new mode after being enslaved for centuries.

How do the Israelites feel about all of these changes?  Their response is na-aseh v'nishmah/"We will do and then we will comprehend."  They seem willing to jump right into this new existence.  The response conveys a certain lightness and level of trust.  It's exciting.  

What will they do with all of the freedom?  How will they make decisions about which laws they will follow and which they will dismiss?  Will this be a communal decision or individual?

"IT" is still in our hands.  And it seems as though we are still in the same position as the Israelites who are experiencing freedom for the first time.  How do we make decisions about what we do? What is our comfort level around "na-seh v'nishma"?  Are you we ok plunging into a task or embracing a norm without having the full understanding?  Are we overly concerned with figuring out all of the details and knowing the outcome?  What are the possibilities that come with being open to engaging in a practice without knowing why or what will be the result?  Wouldn't it be fun to see?

Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat, may we have courage to release ourselves from knowing and understanding.  May we take advantage of the opportunity to live in the doing.

Shabbat shalom,

Laurie