This week‘s Torah Portion is B’haalotecha, which means when you light or when you raise up. The portion begins with the verse, “And God spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the menorah shall the seven lamps give light.” This commandment, to kindle light, is one that we continue to fulfill every Friday, on Shabbat. The flames on the candles are an enduring mystery that speak to the human soul: of understanding, enlightenment, and spiritual attainment. The sages of the commentary Midrash Rabba, which was written to fill in the gaps in scripture, asked why this commandment was given. Who needs this light: is it God, or is it we who need it? They wrote: “Israel said to the Holy One, blessed be the Eternal: ' Sovereign of the Universe! Do You ask us that we should give light before You? You, surely, are the Light of the universe, and brightness abides with You’; as it is written, ’The light dwells with You’ (Dan. II, 22) The Holy One, blessed be the Eternal, said to them: It is not because I require your service, but in order that you may give Me light even as I have given you light. .. as it says, WHEN YOU RAISE THE LAMPS; implying: in order that you may be elevated.” (Numbers Rabbah V:5)
Light is given to us: daylight, fire, understanding, learning, sustenance, beauty: life itself. We are given such great gifts as an act of love, surely not to keep them for ourselves only, but to give them freely, as it says in King Solomon’s book of Proverbs, The spirit of man is the lamp of God (Prov. XX, 27). The book of Kings tells us that Solomon built the Temple with windows that were narrow on the inside and wide on the outside, not to let the light in, but to let it out: to let the light shine forth from the sanctuary. (I Kings VI, 4). Many of you know that my teacher, Rabbi Gelberman, teaches that we may kindle the inner menorah and bring light into the world. By allowing the beauty of our souls to shine forth, we can bring more love, more light, and more Divinity into the world. We are given hearts to love, minds to understand, hands to help, and eyes to let others know we care. It is through us that God’s Presence can manifest in the world. It is through us that tears are dried, arms embrace, and love is given. The Torah urges us to perform acts of lovingkindness. By giving our light to each other, we, ourselves are raised up, purified, and blessed. Our light is the light that makes the world shine. It is ours to give, and may we let it shine forth, lighting up our lives, and the lives of everyone we touch.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
So Much To Give
This week’s Torah portion is Naso, in the Book of Numbers, which means take. It continues the taking of a census from the previous Torah portion. All of the males of the Israelites, from 20 years of age and older, had been counted. Now the Levites were to be counted, from 30 years of age to 50 years, to do the work of the sanctuary: dismantling the Tabernacle, the portable place of prayer and sacrifice in the wilderness; covering it, and carrying; setting it up again; but also serving the priests, serving God, serving the people and later, when there was a permanent Temple, singing and playing the music of worship.
The Israelites were counted for the legion, in case there should be war and they had to defend the nation. They could serve from 20 years of age and onward. The Levite men could not serve until they were mature enough to take their tasks seriously. But why should they have to retire at 50? We are told in the prayerbook about the expected life span of the time: “three score and ten our years may number, four score if granted the vigor.” Most people were expected to live to between 70 and 80 years – not too dissimilar to our own time – slightly less, but not radically different. There is a hint in next week’s portion about this question. It says (Num. 8:25) “from 50 years of age he shall withdraw from the legion of work and no longer work. He shall minister with his brethren in the Tent of Meeting to safeguard the charge but work shall he not perform.” He shall minister: in other words, the Levite was asked to be there for people: a shoulder to lean on, a sympathetic ear, an understanding smile, help when it was needed: to be parent, friend, and even like God for people who seemed to be floundering or who sought a friend; to be a loving presence and to serve in any way his life, and the Eternal One, called him to serve.
And in a sense, this is the service we have been called to as well. Judaism teaches that there are no coincidences. That you, as members and friends, have been called here to be a part of a community where there are opportunities for service and for growth is not accidental. As we are here together, we will be walking along parallel spiritual paths. We are now companions on life’s journey: teaching each other and learning from each other; modeling God’s attributes as given in Exodus, during Moses’ intimate encounter with the Eternal Presence: compassion, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and truth. Each of us, like the Levites during their last 30 years of life, has so much to give. It is a spiritual opportunity for us, as we grow. And we are always in the process of learning how to give; how to get out of the way of our own impulse to love. Service is perhaps, the highest form of love. May our coming together tonight, be a grand new chapter in the history of this synagogue and also of our lives; the creation of a vibrant and sacred community; diverse, promoting and supporting our spiritual growth; accepting, loving, and committed to serving each other, our fellow human beings, and the Eternal God.
The Israelites were counted for the legion, in case there should be war and they had to defend the nation. They could serve from 20 years of age and onward. The Levite men could not serve until they were mature enough to take their tasks seriously. But why should they have to retire at 50? We are told in the prayerbook about the expected life span of the time: “three score and ten our years may number, four score if granted the vigor.” Most people were expected to live to between 70 and 80 years – not too dissimilar to our own time – slightly less, but not radically different. There is a hint in next week’s portion about this question. It says (Num. 8:25) “from 50 years of age he shall withdraw from the legion of work and no longer work. He shall minister with his brethren in the Tent of Meeting to safeguard the charge but work shall he not perform.” He shall minister: in other words, the Levite was asked to be there for people: a shoulder to lean on, a sympathetic ear, an understanding smile, help when it was needed: to be parent, friend, and even like God for people who seemed to be floundering or who sought a friend; to be a loving presence and to serve in any way his life, and the Eternal One, called him to serve.
And in a sense, this is the service we have been called to as well. Judaism teaches that there are no coincidences. That you, as members and friends, have been called here to be a part of a community where there are opportunities for service and for growth is not accidental. As we are here together, we will be walking along parallel spiritual paths. We are now companions on life’s journey: teaching each other and learning from each other; modeling God’s attributes as given in Exodus, during Moses’ intimate encounter with the Eternal Presence: compassion, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and truth. Each of us, like the Levites during their last 30 years of life, has so much to give. It is a spiritual opportunity for us, as we grow. And we are always in the process of learning how to give; how to get out of the way of our own impulse to love. Service is perhaps, the highest form of love. May our coming together tonight, be a grand new chapter in the history of this synagogue and also of our lives; the creation of a vibrant and sacred community; diverse, promoting and supporting our spiritual growth; accepting, loving, and committed to serving each other, our fellow human beings, and the Eternal God.
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