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Parshat Terumah
Exodus 25:1-27:19
The portion opens with:
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
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