This Shabbat marks the 8th anniversary of my mom's passing. I am dedicating this Torah to her. This Torah is written in honor of my mother, Judith Caplan Phillips, z"l. She (and my amazing abba), taught me the importance, value and benefit of belonging to a community (one of the themes in this week's parasha) and the responsibility that comes along with being connected to the "other". I am blessed and grateful.
"Mazal tov" to parents Moran, Murray and sisters Ma'ayan and Meitar Lantner, on the birth of their daughter/sister this past Sunday. May she be blessed with a life filled with joy. laughter, meaning, compassion and peace.
(Do you have something to share? Send me the information by Thursday of each week and I all include it in the weekly Torah teaching.)
And now for some Torah:
Parashat Va'yakhel and Pekudei (it's a double portion Shabbat)
Exodus 35:1-40:38
Chapter 35:
The parasha opens with the image of the entire nation of Israel being "va'yakhel", literally means "communitized". Of course this is not a word in English. But the beauty of Hebrew is that nouns can be turned into verbs. The entire nation of Israel is called upon to hear Moshe announce God's commandments. Calling the people together establishes them as a community. Calling the people together "communitizes" them. God commands Moshe to do this before any commandments are given.
There are other instances where God commands Moshe to speak to the "elders" who will in turn convey the information to the people. But this time, God tells Moshe that the people need to be addressed as A COMMUNITY - ONE COMMUNITY. Gathering just the elders might imply that there are two layers to the community - a higher layer, one that has more access to God and a lower layer that is more distant from God.
I believe God instructs Moshe to "communitize" the people, all of the people so when the commandments are given, they feel, they believe, that God is speaking to an entire community and to each and every person individually. God wants them to feel the power of belonging to a community and God wants them to feel the intimacy of a relationship with God.
I believe God wants me to feel, wants us to feel the power of belonging to a community and I believe God wants me to feel, wants us to feel the intimacy of a relationship with God.
The Israelites relied on God for everything - shelter, protection and food. God was the parent, the partner , the provider. While I am grateful to be living in this time, in some ways I am envious of the Israelites. God gave them water. God provided manna. God took the form of a cloud by day and fire by night to guide and protect them. They felt the presence of God on a daily basis - multiple times a day, throughout the day.
I provide my food. I have continuous running water. I feel safe without a body guard. I feel strong and empowered to make decisions. I don't rely on God to provide or protect me. So can I, can we experience the presence of God, experience an intimacy with God the same way as the Israelites?
I appreciate and value that the power to change lies in the hands of humanity. I choose to believe that God is engaged in an infinite "tzimtzum"/retraction, allowing humanity to be in charge. And I choose to believe that God is ever present and the ability for me to react, to respond, and to engage. Can I, can we experience the presence of God, experience an intimacy with God the same way as the Israelites?
I want to believe this is possible. Perhaps, the way to achieve this intimacy, is by "communizing" ourselves? In the Torah, God had to do this - Moshe had to do this. But, today, we have the capacity and the ability to really establish ourselves as A community, ONE community, a community of HUMAN BEINGS.
When we truly believe that we are all part of the same community, we will act as one community. We will make sure everyone has food, water and shelter. When we truly believe all humanity is part of A COMMUNITY, we will make sure everyone is protected. And then, (maybe) we will experience the same intimacy with God as the Israelites did when God spoke to each person individually.
Mekor Ha'Chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat, may we articulate a goal of all humanity being "communitized" into A COMMUNITY. May we prioritize ensuring that everyone has food, water and safe shelter. May we experience the presence of God and the intimacy of being in relationship with something greater than ourselves.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach,
Laurie
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