GETTING THE CALL – Vayikra – Leviticus 1:1 ff – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Baruch

 

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GETTING THE CALL – Vayikra – Leviticus 1:1 ff – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

          This week we begin the book of Leviticus.  Its first three words are worth dwelling on.  Unlike most English translations, this book does NOT open by saying “The L-rd called to Moses, and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting.”  The Hebrew original starts with the three words “Vayikra el Mosheh” – literally, “He called to Moses.”  Who called?   The text does not say.  Of course, next come the words “the L-rd spoke to him,” but we still don’t know who called Moses to attention.

          True, most commentators assume that the call came from G-d, because the immediate previous section, at the end of Exodus, specifically tells us that Divine glory filled the Tabernacle.  So if a call came to Moses from there, it had to be the voice of G-d.  It remained for the Lubavitcher Rebbe to ask “Who is calling?” and to differ with some earlier commentators as to the basis, but he too assumed the Divine source.

          Now let’s take another look at this text.  The Torah not only does not waste words, it does not omit words.  No message reaches its target unless that target is there to receive it.  Every target – particularly a human ear – needs to be ready, needs an alert, an alarm, a call to attention.  The source of that call could be natural or supernatural, human or animal or technical.  G-d might send us a message, and we might not be listening.   So Vayikra el Mosheh really applies to all of us.  If a Moses needs a call, what about us ordinary people?  A baby cries, a bird squawks, thunder roars, tires shriek, a plane power-dives – were you listening?   Maybe you weren’t, but you are now.  And if you have the head and the heart to get the message, you can save yourself and those you love.

          Who called to Moses?  It doesn’t matter.  Moses heard the call, and was ready.  So may it be for us.

Posted in Baruch Cohon, Book of Leviticus, Moses, Torah Study, Vayikra | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HOW MANY EXILES? – Pekudey – Ex.38 -40 by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Baruch

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HOW MANY EXILES? – Pekudey – Ex.38 -40 by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

          This week the Book of Exodus concludes with an elaborate description of the process of assembling the Tabernacle and initiating its ritual.  After a year of wandering in the desert, on the first day of the first month of the second year, the people of Israel has its portable headquarters – a home for its worship and a guide for its journey.  The last section of this reading tells us that the Divine presence shows by day in a cloud resting on the Tabernacle, and at night by a fire burning inside.  When the cloud rises, the people move on, extending their progress toward the Promised Land.  When the cloud settles, they camp. 

          Here we have a physical, visual symbol of Jewish destiny.  As the “pillar of cloud by day, and the burning fire by night” is said to guide our ancestors on their ancient journey through the desert, so our faith should guide us on our journey through life and through history.

          The great commentator Nachmanides, the Ramban, writes that Exodus is the book of the first exile — first of four exiles scheduled for Israel.  This exile was decreed in the 15th chapter of Genesis, where the people’s redemption from exile was also predicted.  But that exile was not finished until the Tabernacle was complete and Divine glory could dwell among the people.

          Four exiles: Egypt, Babylon, Rome and Spain.  Did the independence of the State of Israel end the 4th exile? 

          Maybe not.   Maybe we are still in the 4th exile, without an invasion, without an inquisition.  Maybe we are in exile from ourselves.  Right now.  Maybe we find too many of our people wilfully turning their backs on the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. 

No maybe about it.   

Many years ago I found myself discussing the concept of a Messiah with a Hebrew school class.  I asked them who did they think the Messiah would be.  It was a 12-year-old boy who answered: “I think the Messiah is all of us.  We can save ourselves.”

Good answer, Billy.  Indeed we need to save ourselves.  We need to end our exile from ourselves and from each other.  We need to share the basic beauty of our heritage, the potent power of our Torah, over and above our quarreling interpretations.  Find that pillar of fire and follow it into a future we can share.   

No 5th exile!

Posted in Baruch Cohon, Exodus, Pikudey, Torah, Torah Study | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

ENOUGH ALREADY! – Vayak’hel – Ex. 35-38:20 – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Baruch

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ENOUGH ALREADY! – Vayak’hel – Ex. 35-38:20 – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

          Many events chronicled in the Torah are first-time, and will reoccur again and again throughout history.  Battles between tribes, domestic quarrels, slavery, rebellion – they all repeat themselves the world over.  One exception, of course, is the Revelation on Mount Sinai, certainly a singular event in all history.  This week provides another one-timer.  Not to be compared with the Sinai experience, it still can leave us shaking our heads in wonder – and perhaps a little humor too.

          Less than two months passed since the Israelite people received the Torah, and during that time they already violated the law they accepted, by worshipping a Golden Calf.  Now that Moses and his Levite vigilantes whipped the people back in line, they are commanded to devote themselves to building the Tabernacle in the desert.  First of all the Jewish houses of worship, this portable sanctuary had to be constructed with whatever the people could contribute.   Not money, but building materials, from cut wood and hewn stone to turquoise, precious metals and jewels, woven wool and linen.  The tribal princes bring their treasures, and those who have no treasures bring their skills, “craftsmen, weavers and embroiderers.”     

Where did they get it all?  True, we remember that when they left Egypt they were able to take some plunder with them.  But more significant is the question of what made them suddenly so generous.  Did a  powerful sense of guilt move them? In any case, they made and brought whatever they could.  Under the leadership of the master designer Betzalel, they showed up every morning with more contributions.

          Finally we will read that the supervisors of the work came to Moses and told him the people were bringing much more than the job required.   So, at Moses’ order, they passed the word in the camp: “Let no man or woman do any more for the holy Sanctuary!”  And the people stopped bringing.

          Truly a one-time event.  When, in all the centuries since Moses, did a leader have to proclaim Enough already!  Stop giving!?   What a magnificent outpouring that was – and not one donor is named in the Torah.  No plaques in the Tabernacle.

          We moderns have our share of golden calves.  Arguably one of them is personal credit.   Plaques, stained glass windows, ads in the newspaper – all glorify donors.   If your telephone rings less than 10 times a day with appeals, and promises of personal plaudits in return for writing a check – consider yourself lucky.

Perhaps when we are moved to turn the tables and build a sanctified house of the future, the Messiah will tell us to stop giving and just enjoy.

Posted in Baruch Cohon, Exodus, Torah Study | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A HAMMER, A CHISEL AND — A LOOM? Kee Tissa — Ex. 31 By Rabbi Baruch Cohon

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Baruch

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A HAMMER, A CHISEL AND — A LOOM? Kee Tissa — Ex. 31

This week’s Torah reading includes a variety of subjects, from the first census of the people of Israel to the structure of their first house of worship, the sacrifices to be offered there, priestly clothing, Sabbath observance, Moses ascending the mountain  and the famous story of the Golden Calf.

One very brief section comes at the beginning of Chapter 31 of Exodus, and it should not be ignored.  It designates a man named Betzalel of the tribe of Judah as chief builder of the Tabernacle and all its ceremonial articles.  He and his associate Oholiab of the tribe of Dan are among those described as “wise-hearted” and they can be trusted with the sacred task of “making all that I have commanded.”  Speaking of Betzalel, the Torah says in the name of G-d: “I have filled him with the Divine spirit, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship.”  Three requirements: wisdom, understanding and knowledge.  Rashi’s commentary elaborates: Wisdom is what you learn from others; understanding is how you apply it; knowledge is what you know without being taught.  In other words, brains, action and talent.  Necessary equipment for any good craftsman.

The Torah goes on, to define Betzalel’s job: “to devise skillful works, to work in gold, in silver and in brass, in cutting stones for setting, in carving wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.”  No specialist, Betzalel — he could do it all.  With some help from Oholiab — and perhaps some grunters who don’t get named here — he had to build and set up the tent of meeting, the altars and their vessels, the laver (read tub) and its base.  They also had to design and turn out the clothing for Aaron and his sons, and they had to make the anointing oil and the incense that brought the sacred odor into the Tabernacle.

What craftsman can combine all these skills?   Reading the qualities and responsibilities credited to Betzalel, we can appreciate why modern Israeli producers of artwork use his name.

We should also appreciate the importance that the Torah gives to physical construction and the skills it demands.  From the Tabernacle in the desert to Solomon’s Temple, to the great houses of assembly and worship throughout history, our dedicated builders provide us with the homes of holiness.

Posted in Baruch Cohon, Exodus, Jewish Blogs, Ki tissa, Torah, Torah Study | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

PURE OIL – Tetzaveh – Ex. 27:20ff – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Baruch

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PURE OIL – Tetzaveh – Ex. 27:20ff – by Rabbi Baruch Cohon

          The section called Tetzaveh – “You command” – which we read this week starts with a description of the fuel for the Eternal Light to be kindled in the holy Tabernacle in the desert.  Moses is charged to command the Israelites to bring him “pure olive oil, beaten for lighting.”  Exactly what does that require?

          Commentators differ on the actual content of the oil.  What needs to be pure, the olives that get beaten into oil, or the final product?  It is the Ramban (Nachmanides) who points out that no fresh olives are available in the desert.  No way the Israelites could supply those.  Even the few olives they might have with them would be old, damaged, even rotten by now.  What they do have is jugs of olive oil that their tribal leaders brought from Egypt.  From that stock they can select pure fuel for this Mitzvah.

          Since the Eternal Light – Ner Tamid – is today a trademark of every synagogue, we might well apply some thought to its symbolic value.   Very few Eternal Lights today burn olive oil, and our ancestors in the desert had no electric power.  But the purpose – the Mitzvah – did not change.   Take the best, undamaged and never used. Never mind where it came from, and don’t count the cost.  Use the best, to fulfill the Mitzvah, because the Eternal Light symbolizes the Divine Presence among us.  And our own action keeps us conscious of that Presence.

          Personal experience in producing a Ner Tamid for a local synagogue illustrates the point.  We got a sculptor to design the fixture and get it fabricated.  Then we installed it, with a special power cord with no switch, so it would stay illuminated around the clock.  At this writing we are still experimenting with LED bulbs or other light sources to spread its message.  I am sure the final results will add the little bit of inspiration that comes with this Mitzvah.  It’s not oil, but let it be pure.

Posted in Baruch Cohon, Exodus, Israel, Jewish, Jewish Blogs, Mitzvah, Tetzaveh | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment