Parashat Terumah- Hiddur Mitzvah

Vayidabeir Hashem el Moshe laimor: Dabeir el b’nei Yisrael v’yikchu-li t’rumah mei’eit kol-ish asher yidbenu libo tikchu et t’rumati (Shmot 25:1-2)…. V’asu li mikdash v’shachanti b’tocham (25:8)

And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: Tell the children of Israel to bring Me a gift (t’rumah), from every person whose heart moves him, you shall accept My gift…. And build for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell within it.

The word “bring me/v’yikchu li” literally means take, stressing the uniqueness of tzedakah given freely.  One who gives receives something in return. This something may not be material, yet it is tangible. But beyond the noble cause of tzedakah, in which the entire community has a part, the materials collected a special and unique. T’rumah, gifts, specifically refers to materials set aside for a holy purpose. What follows is a list of beautiful and valuable materials: gold, silver and bronze, gems, richly coloured yarns, valuable skins, woods, oils and spices. These are the to be used in the construction of the Mikdash, the Tabernacle which traveled with Israel in the wilderness. Could the Mikdash have been created from simple wood and cloth? Of course, but there is a purpose to the beauty.

When Israel crossed Yam Suf, they say, “Zeh Eili v’anveihu; this is my God, and I will glorify him.” (Shemot 15:2) Midrash explains that God cannot be made more glorious, but we glorify God by seeking to glorify the mitzvot. A beautiful environment adds to the mitzvah. It is a means to build upon the mitzvah. The Mikdash must be a place significant and special for the Israelites. It must be a place to which the people are drawn. This idea of fulfilling mitzvot in the most beautiful way is hidur mitzvah, but hidur mitzvah goes beyond this.  Skylar, a blogger about conversion, writes that hidur mitzvah allows individuals to become invested in the mitzvot in a personal way. We are not meant to lose ourselves in a mitzvah, but to immerse ourselves within it. A wonderful example of this is our beautiful aron, our ark in the sanctuary, which was dedicated by and for Hazzan Charles. Within our sanctuary our beautiful aron draws the eye and the intention. It helps us to focus our t’fillot and serves as a beautiful centerpiece for our congregation.

V’yikchu-li t’rumah mei’eit kol-ish asher yidbenu libo tikchu et t’rumati…. V’asu li mikdash v’shachanti b’tocham. Bring Me a gift (t’rumah), from every person whose heart moves him, you shall accept My gift…. And build for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell within it.

Together we build our world and our community to create a beautiful dwelling place where we can meet God.

Mishpatim- Before its time

While the Aseret Dibrot, in parashat Yitro, are the beginning of revelation to the Israelites at Sinai, and proclaim the basic tenets of society, parashat Mishpatim seeks to declare the details- proclaiming equality, fairness, derekh eretz, and g’milut hasadim. These are the ideals that made, and continue to make, the Jewish community unique in its time.

“…nefesh tachat nefesh. Ayin tachat ayin shein tchat shein yad tachat yad regel tachat regel…. V’chi yakeh ish et ayin avdo o-et ain amato v’shichatah lachafshi y’shalchenu tachat aino.”

“…a life for a life. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, hand for a hand, leg for a leg…. And if a man hits the eye of his male slave or female slave, and he destroys it, he [the master] shall let him [or her- the slave] go for his eye’s sake.” (Shemot 21:23-26)

Equality in the Torah is not based upon wealth or stature, as in the Code of Hammurabi (Babylonia c. 1772). Humans, all humans- male or female, rich or poor, free or enslaved have worth. While slavery is an accepted fact in society at the time of the Torah, human beings are not property to be beaten without care to damage. They have the right to protection and safety.

“Ki tifga shor oyivcha o chamoro to’eh hasheiv t’shivenu lo. Ki tireh chamor sona’acha roveitz tachat masa’o v’chadalta mei’a’zov lo azov ta’azov imo.”

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his ass wandering, you must surely return it to him. If you see the ass of your enemy lying under its burden, and would refrain from helping it up, you must nevertheless raise it with him.” (Shemot 23:4-5)

A fair and equal society cannot just be based upon alliances, but on this sense of equality and fair play. We are expected to act with derekh eretz not only for friends and neighbours, but also for our enemies. Often when our Sages spoke about our actions towards others the reason for these norms of behaviour  was tikkun olam. This is the true meaning of tikkun olam, of fixing the world. These are the norms by which we must live if we are to create a world in which individuals rights and equality are guaranteed to all.  These are the ideals declared in Mishpatim, and throughout the Torah.

Parashat Yitro- Accepting the brit

There are many midrashim about how the Israelites came to accept the Torah. Some are positive; others less so, some even seem to contradict.

When Israel stood tachtit hahar, under the mountain*, God lifted the mountain and held it over the heads of the Israelites, threatening to bury Israel if they did not accept. (*Shmot 19:17)

Did we accept the Torah without hesitation or only through fear?  Some say it had been Israel’s destiny to accept Torah no matter what?

When God came to Israel to offer the Torah, God asked, “What will you give me in return?” “Our ancestors will be our guarantors,” said Israel, but God rejected this. “Our prophets will be our guarantors,” said Israel, but God rejected this as well.  Finally Israel said, “Our children will be our guarantors,” and this God accepted.

Torah and Judaism are not merely about our ancestors or our prophets, but about our future.  It is the connection dor l’dor, generation to generation that makes Judaism special and ties us all together as Jews.

God went to many people in the world with the Torah.  But each time the people would ask what was in it before agreeing to accept God’s word.  Then God came to the Israelites.  “Will you accept My Torah,” asked God. “Na’aseh v’nishma; we will do and we will understand*,” answered the Israelites. (*The Israelites say na’aseh to God twice. Shmot 19:8- “All that God has said we will do.” Shmot 24:4, Mishpatim-“We will do and we will understand.”)

Na’aseh- we will do. The Israelites accept the Torah prior to standing under the mountain. Na’aseh- we will do, in the future- for all generations with our children as our guarantors. Na’aseh- we will do- every one of us together, as a people and a community.

And God spoke to Moshe, “…the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever*.” (Shmot 19:9) L’olam- forever- for all generations. How can it be that a promise can be made by one generation for all generations forever? It is said that all generations stood at Sinai together, all Jewish souls, whether past, present, or future, those born to Judaism and those who choose it- accepting the yoke of Torah together.

Today we will stand as we read the Aseret Dibrot, the Ten Commandments, accepting again, as we did in the past and will again in the future, the mitzvot and the brit, the covenant with God.

Judaism's Best Mitzvah

Okay, it's been too, too long since I've been blogging, and I will try to get my drashot and more up soon.

Tonight I got to perform Judaism's best mitzvah.  Your not supposed to have a favourite mitzvah.  They're all equally important.  Still, I have a favourite, and my favourite mitzvah is mikveh.  Once a month, plus on a few special occasions I take time for me and God.  Another good part, God lets me focus on myself. Before I go to the mikveh I take 1-2 hours of me time.  Sometimes I take an entire evening to myself, sometimes I split the time.

Last night I took the time to give myself a reverse mani/pedi, taking off all my nail polish and taking care of my feet and hands.  Tonight I took some private time before prepping.  To got to mikveh you must first be fully clean.  It's a state of ritual and mental purity not cleanliness.  Teeth, hair, skin all must be clean.  It's nice to spend the time just taking care of me.

Then, it's off to the mikveh.  I go to the Sephardic Kehilla Centre, which is about two minutes from the house.  I'm in, a few more minutes for me, and into the mikveh.  It's bathtub warm and even when standing I feel as if I'm floating.  Dip once, bracha, dip a second time, yehi ratzon, dip a third.  I always take a extra minute in the mikveh.  I just enjoy the warmth.  I stand by the holes where the mikveh waters kiss the pool waters.  You can feel the cool water flow in from the mikveh pool.

After I recite the "Prayer Before Immersion."  Yes, I do recite it in the wrong order.  I'm a rebel.  The prayer asks for God's will in creating harmony between me and my husband, that we should appreciate each other, respect each other, and build a life and a family that will endure.  I enjoy this tekina (a traditional woman's prayer); it expresses a hope for the ideal that marriage can be, a true partnership built on love and mutual respect.  To think that this tekina with these ideals has been around for at least a century, maybe more, is inspiring to me.

Sean has a different take on mikveh.  For him it's erotic, but you'll have to ask him about that.  The Rabbis understood this.  For them mikveh wasn't about purity; it was about separation between a husband and wife creating desire and ensuring they were, at least one time a month, just like the day they were married.

I also leave the mikveh refreshed.  It doesn't matter how long the day has seemed, how hectic or frustrating, I emerge from the mikveh smiling, rejuvenated.  I attribute that to the few minutes I spend fully immersed in the water, the time I give to God.

A moment with God, a month of peace and romance.  Definitely the best mitzvah of all!

I now love Dominik Diamond

It's been way too long since I wrote in my blog, and I promise to catch up (I have a whole month of notes to transfer in- ugh!), but I  had to post this.  Dominik Diamond, evening DJ on Q107 posted for Megillah Mia.  He's my new best friend, and I love him.

Here's the link, http://www.q107.com/Blogs/ShineOnWithCrazyDiamond/BlogEntry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10356469&t=734#comments.  Check it out & come to the show.  Advance tickets available by calling (416) 667-1717.

Happy Purim!