Rabbi Philip Weintraub
Congregation B’nai Israel
March 2, 2019
Parshat Vayakhel
Our parsha this week opens:
While I agree that the ending sounds a little harsh, sometimes we need a strong reminder to take a break! In this world, we are always connected, always online, always alert for the ding, ring, tone, buzz, or beep that tells us someone else has commented, emailed, texted, called, tried to be in touch. Yet the more we are electronically connected, it sometimes feels that the less we are emotionally and physically connected. In my family I am grateful of the benefits of technology, allowing my parents and Rebecca’s parents, our family and friends to see and interact with our children on an almost daily basis--something that would not have been so easily possible even a few short years ago. There are two sides to every coin, yet I think that Shabbat is a win-win possibility. This Shabbat, the people that brought you the Sabbath Manifesto bring you the National Day of Unplugging. This week we shared “cell phone sleeping bags” to all that wanted them. I hope you enjoy them. Taking one day to truly disconnect, whether it is occasionally or weekly really changes your life!
Friday night is easy. Friday night we celebrate Shabbat together, we participate in the prayers, eat dinner together, see our friends, but the todays, the next Shabbatots, need more work. Our parsha reminds us of this challenge.
While Vayakhel opens with the verses of Shabbat, the main focus of the parsha is the building of the Mishkan, the construction of God’s dwelling place in the wilderness.
When I was reading the parsha, preparing for this service, I was struck by the descriptions, the grandeur, the beauty for this Holy Space. It made me think about this beautiful sanctuary, about our beautiful windows. We have a beautiful home. Together, we built a space devoted to God. Together, we are working to create holiness and sanctity, echoing the tasks of our ancestors in the wilderness, of our foremothers and forefathers in Jerusalem.
In Chapter 36 of Exodus, we read:
2 Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the Lord had endowed with skill, everyone who excelled in ability, to undertake the task and carry it out. 3 They took over from Moses all the gifts that the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary. But when these continued to bring freewill offerings to him morning after morning, 4 all the artisans who were engaged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, each from the task upon which he was engaged, 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that the Lord has commanded to be done." 6 Moses thereupon had this proclamation made throughout the camp: "Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the sanctuary!" So the people stopped bringing: 7 their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done.
I do not think we are yet at the point where you have brought TOO much of your time, energy, talents and money. Last Shabbat we spoke of Inclusion. This sanctuary is inclusive. We have space for people with wheelchairs or walkers in some places--but do we need more? We have heard the importance of door openers to ensure people can independently get into the bathrooms. We still have work to do.
Looking at the opening of this parsha, one of my teachers, Rabbi Matt Berkowitz, a rabbi and artist, a professor and educator for JTS in Jerusalem, asks:
Why turn to the “whole Israelite community,” and not simply a cabal of leaders, contractors, and artisans to realize this vision? Such a strategy would have been far easier for Moses, limiting the scope of participation to the elites of the community.
(12th century) French commentator Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor writes that [Moses wanted to be sure] “that individual Israelites could not object and say, ‘God commanded that a Tabernacle be built for Him but did not ask us to bring gifts as donations to it. So we didn’t know . . . and we did not have the privilege of contributing like others.’ Therefore, Moses announced to all of them as one.” In so doing, Bekhor Shor underscores this notion of communal participation. Why did Moses convene the entire Israelite community at the beginning of Parashat Va-yak∙hel? Our commentator argues that Moses’s concern is one of inclusion. For such a sacred endeavor, the entire community was convened. Moses, according to Bekhor Shor, was concerned that some Israelites could potentially feel “left out.” For this reason, an announcement was made to the entire people so that, later on, individual Israelites could not object that they knew nothing about the project.
This message is a powerful one about both the involvement of an entire community and transparency. Moses realizes quickly that leadership involves investing the entire community with a sense of inclusion. To achieve this end, Moses deliberately convokes all of the people to invite their participation in the building of God’s dwelling place. Clearly, it is everyone’s involvement that underscores the sense of sanctity. God does not and cannot dwell on the shoulders of the few. It is in the midst of community through which God’s Presence resides from generation to generation.
https://jvillagenetwork.com/shabbat-hachodesh-vayak%E2%80%99heilp%E2%80%99kudei-0
This week is a special Shabbat. It is Shabbat Shekalim. Our Maftir this morning meant looking back to last week’s parsha, to the census via the half-shekel. We end up with two related messages about supporting the community. On the one hand, we want to ensure that EVERYONE is equal--that all of us have a similar offering--no more and no less. We are counted as a community when ALL participate in supporting the community. On the other hand, we see THIS week that we all have different gifts. Some of us are artists, doctors, writers, lawyers, accountants, bankers, craftspeople, gardeners, mailpeople. We work with our hands and we keep our hands gloved. Our work makes us sweaty and tired outside and it keeps us dry and cool inside. We are all the same and we all have different bank accounts. This week ALSO reminds us that if we have more, we have more to share. Moses spoke to ALL Israelites. He called on EVERY SKILLED person. We have to use the gifts that we have to support our community, to create beautiful spaces and to sustain them.
I have yet to see the Rivkah and Ya’akov Greenblumstein electric, water, and internet fund in a synagogue, but maybe we need that. Every non-profit organization knows that people love to support projects, to support new endeavors, but the old ones, the established ones, the lights need your support, too. If more of us were to leave our phones alone for a day, what would happen if we all donated the equivalent of the Sabbath’s cell bill to support the shul? Assuming a $100 cell phone bill, divided by 30 multiplied by 52 Shabbatot is $173 (or less than $15 a month). If every family in the shul did that, it would be more than $50,000 a year for basic expenses. A few dollars can quickly make a difference!
About these donations, Ovadia ben Jacob Sforno, a physician and biblical commentary from 16th cenutry Italy, writes:
כל נדיב לבו, the donations must not be forced contributions.
Literally, they are donations from the heart. CBI is the place of our hearts. It is the place of our souls. It is our home. We are grateful to share the blessings of this community with one another and with God. I pray that we continue to see these blessings for many, many years to come, and that all who are so moved (aka all of us) will continue to support it wholeheartedly. As we continue our Shabbat, I pray that you will find peace, quiet, a good book and a good schluff, this Shabbat and every one that follows. Shabbat Shalom.
Congregation B’nai Israel
March 2, 2019
Parshat Vayakhel
Our parsha this week opens:
א וַיַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁה, אֶת-כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם: אֵלֶּה, הַדְּבָרִים, אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה ה", לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָם.
1 And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them: 'These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.
ב שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, תֵּעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יִהְיֶה לָכֶם קֹדֶשׁ שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן, לַה"; כָּל-הָעֹשֶׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה, יוּמָת.
2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.While I agree that the ending sounds a little harsh, sometimes we need a strong reminder to take a break! In this world, we are always connected, always online, always alert for the ding, ring, tone, buzz, or beep that tells us someone else has commented, emailed, texted, called, tried to be in touch. Yet the more we are electronically connected, it sometimes feels that the less we are emotionally and physically connected. In my family I am grateful of the benefits of technology, allowing my parents and Rebecca’s parents, our family and friends to see and interact with our children on an almost daily basis--something that would not have been so easily possible even a few short years ago. There are two sides to every coin, yet I think that Shabbat is a win-win possibility. This Shabbat, the people that brought you the Sabbath Manifesto bring you the National Day of Unplugging. This week we shared “cell phone sleeping bags” to all that wanted them. I hope you enjoy them. Taking one day to truly disconnect, whether it is occasionally or weekly really changes your life!
Friday night is easy. Friday night we celebrate Shabbat together, we participate in the prayers, eat dinner together, see our friends, but the todays, the next Shabbatots, need more work. Our parsha reminds us of this challenge.
While Vayakhel opens with the verses of Shabbat, the main focus of the parsha is the building of the Mishkan, the construction of God’s dwelling place in the wilderness.
When I was reading the parsha, preparing for this service, I was struck by the descriptions, the grandeur, the beauty for this Holy Space. It made me think about this beautiful sanctuary, about our beautiful windows. We have a beautiful home. Together, we built a space devoted to God. Together, we are working to create holiness and sanctity, echoing the tasks of our ancestors in the wilderness, of our foremothers and forefathers in Jerusalem.
In Chapter 36 of Exodus, we read:
2 Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the Lord had endowed with skill, everyone who excelled in ability, to undertake the task and carry it out. 3 They took over from Moses all the gifts that the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary. But when these continued to bring freewill offerings to him morning after morning, 4 all the artisans who were engaged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, each from the task upon which he was engaged, 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that the Lord has commanded to be done." 6 Moses thereupon had this proclamation made throughout the camp: "Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the sanctuary!" So the people stopped bringing: 7 their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done.
I do not think we are yet at the point where you have brought TOO much of your time, energy, talents and money. Last Shabbat we spoke of Inclusion. This sanctuary is inclusive. We have space for people with wheelchairs or walkers in some places--but do we need more? We have heard the importance of door openers to ensure people can independently get into the bathrooms. We still have work to do.
Looking at the opening of this parsha, one of my teachers, Rabbi Matt Berkowitz, a rabbi and artist, a professor and educator for JTS in Jerusalem, asks:
Why turn to the “whole Israelite community,” and not simply a cabal of leaders, contractors, and artisans to realize this vision? Such a strategy would have been far easier for Moses, limiting the scope of participation to the elites of the community.
(12th century) French commentator Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor writes that [Moses wanted to be sure] “that individual Israelites could not object and say, ‘God commanded that a Tabernacle be built for Him but did not ask us to bring gifts as donations to it. So we didn’t know . . . and we did not have the privilege of contributing like others.’ Therefore, Moses announced to all of them as one.” In so doing, Bekhor Shor underscores this notion of communal participation. Why did Moses convene the entire Israelite community at the beginning of Parashat Va-yak∙hel? Our commentator argues that Moses’s concern is one of inclusion. For such a sacred endeavor, the entire community was convened. Moses, according to Bekhor Shor, was concerned that some Israelites could potentially feel “left out.” For this reason, an announcement was made to the entire people so that, later on, individual Israelites could not object that they knew nothing about the project.
This message is a powerful one about both the involvement of an entire community and transparency. Moses realizes quickly that leadership involves investing the entire community with a sense of inclusion. To achieve this end, Moses deliberately convokes all of the people to invite their participation in the building of God’s dwelling place. Clearly, it is everyone’s involvement that underscores the sense of sanctity. God does not and cannot dwell on the shoulders of the few. It is in the midst of community through which God’s Presence resides from generation to generation.
https://jvillagenetwork.com/shabbat-hachodesh-vayak%E2%80%99heilp%E2%80%99kudei-0
This week is a special Shabbat. It is Shabbat Shekalim. Our Maftir this morning meant looking back to last week’s parsha, to the census via the half-shekel. We end up with two related messages about supporting the community. On the one hand, we want to ensure that EVERYONE is equal--that all of us have a similar offering--no more and no less. We are counted as a community when ALL participate in supporting the community. On the other hand, we see THIS week that we all have different gifts. Some of us are artists, doctors, writers, lawyers, accountants, bankers, craftspeople, gardeners, mailpeople. We work with our hands and we keep our hands gloved. Our work makes us sweaty and tired outside and it keeps us dry and cool inside. We are all the same and we all have different bank accounts. This week ALSO reminds us that if we have more, we have more to share. Moses spoke to ALL Israelites. He called on EVERY SKILLED person. We have to use the gifts that we have to support our community, to create beautiful spaces and to sustain them.
I have yet to see the Rivkah and Ya’akov Greenblumstein electric, water, and internet fund in a synagogue, but maybe we need that. Every non-profit organization knows that people love to support projects, to support new endeavors, but the old ones, the established ones, the lights need your support, too. If more of us were to leave our phones alone for a day, what would happen if we all donated the equivalent of the Sabbath’s cell bill to support the shul? Assuming a $100 cell phone bill, divided by 30 multiplied by 52 Shabbatot is $173 (or less than $15 a month). If every family in the shul did that, it would be more than $50,000 a year for basic expenses. A few dollars can quickly make a difference!
About these donations, Ovadia ben Jacob Sforno, a physician and biblical commentary from 16th cenutry Italy, writes:
כל נדיב לבו, the donations must not be forced contributions.
Literally, they are donations from the heart. CBI is the place of our hearts. It is the place of our souls. It is our home. We are grateful to share the blessings of this community with one another and with God. I pray that we continue to see these blessings for many, many years to come, and that all who are so moved (aka all of us) will continue to support it wholeheartedly. As we continue our Shabbat, I pray that you will find peace, quiet, a good book and a good schluff, this Shabbat and every one that follows. Shabbat Shalom.
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