Beineinu is not having a separate Purim celebration (we are already planning one for next year). However, there are great events happening around NYC this weekend and on the 23rd. Check out the Manhattan JCC, the 92nd St Y and UWS Synagogues or Google "NYC Purim Celebrations" for details. Be in touch with any questions.
Parashat Va'yikra
Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26
Last Shabbat we read the final parasha in the Book of Shemot. The Israelites were busy building the mishkan - movable Ark and Temple for God and making the holy vestments for the Priests. Even though so much attention has been placed on external matters, God kept reminding "they will build and I will dwell within them." God's presence might be seen in the structure or the garments but the true presence of God would be felt within.
This week we begin reading the third Book of the Torah, Leviticus. We continue with external preparations and external effort as the way to worship and serve God. The Book of Leviticus focuses mainly on the different sacrifices that are offered to God. There are sin offerings, peace offerings, meal offerings and guilt offerings. There are elaborate preparation methods and very specific parameters surrounding each of the sacrifices including; What is offered? How it is prepared? When can it be offered? And what can be eaten? The best of the best was given over to God.
So many details. So many rules. So many sacrifices. Why?
The Hebrew word for sacrifice is "korban". The root letters are "koof", "reish", "vet" which is the word "karov" and means "close". The intricate details, the elaborate preparations and the very specific rules and regulations around each of the sacrifices were the cornerstones for building community. They shifted the focus away from the individual and directed it towards God. "WE" became valued over "ME". The sacrifices also provided an opportunity for a closeness between God and the individual, between God and the people to be created. The basis of the relationship between God and the people is closeness. This was the case back then and (for many) it is still the case today. Back in the Bible, (remember the Golden Calf?), the Israelites wanted closeness with God more than anything. They gave up all of their gold just to have a God they could see and touch.
My teacher, Rabbi Levi Lauer says "in the time of the Golden Calf, the Israelites were willing to give up all of their material possessions for a relationship with God. Today, we are willing to give up God for more material gain."
In today's society we have too many examples where values have been abandoned in order to achieve material gain. All energy and effort have been placed on accumulating more and more and more. There doesn't seem to be a point where enough has been achieved. During Biblical times and while the Temple was in existence, we were required to give a portion of our "earnings" and the best of these earnings to the God. We didn't get to keep it for ourselves. Our reward came from praising and worshiping God. Our reward was linked to the rewards of the larger community.
Today, individual needs and gains have replaced prioritizing the needs and gains of the overall community. Today, whatever I earn, whatever wealth is amassed, it belongs to me. I can choose to give it to others but this decision is not critical to my success and role in the community (in fact it is the opposite). I wonder if this would be the case if we hadn't replaced sacrifices with prayer? What if we still had to select the best of our possessions and offer them up to God? What if we only were able to keep the second best?
The Book of Leviticus is long and many of us become uninterested in the minutia around the sacrifices wondering why all of these details are necessary today?
Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to evaluate our own relationship around money and God? Do we desire to be closer? What can we do deepen our connection? What is our relationship to money? Is it healthy? Or are we willing to sacrifice our relationship with others for greater material gain? Do our efforts draw us closer to others or create more distance?
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat and make our way through the Book of Leviticus, let us take an accounting (pun intended) of the role money plays in our lives and in our relationships. What changes do we want to make? How can we shift the attention back to "We"?Perhaps these changes will create a deeper connection to the other (and maybe even God)?
Shabbat Shalom u'mevorach -
May Shabbat be filled with rest and blessing,
Laurie
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