VaYakhel-Pekuday: Get Together

With Vayakhel-Pekuday, we have reached the conclusion of the book of Exodus.  In the first part of this double portion, we find Moses convening the Israelite community: after the sin of the Golden Calf, they must recenter their attention on the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), which will become a focal point for Israelite worship, and will give them a specific place to which they can direct their attention anytime they are longing to feel God's presence.  Where previously their hearts strayed as they sought to make the Calf a physical stand-in for God, now they have an officially sanctioned way of worshipping this God they cannot see.  (The second portion for this week, Pekuday, pertains to the furnishings of the Tabernacle)

Moses gathers all of the people to give the instructions for crafting and decorating the Mishkan.  He recognizes that all of the community must be emotionally invested in the project in order for it to be a success.  Even the selection of those who will oversee the enterprise takes this into account: Bezalel, who takes the lead on construction, comes from the large tribe of Judah; Oholiab, who will have oversight of the textile work, hails from Dan, a fairly small tribe.  But they, like the rest of their fellow Israelites, most come together for the good of the project.

It is somewhat ironic to be reading about such a large assembly when community gatherings are actually being curtailed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.  Yet we should remember that we can build community without all participants being in the same place.  We can unite around common beliefs, common hopes, and common ideals.  That's a great way to Get Together.

Please note, I do not own-- nor do I claim to own-- these songs.  Copyrights are held by the various artists.  I include them here for illustrative purposes.
Get Together- (VaYakhel-Pekuday, Exodus 35:1-40:38)

Music and lyrics by Chet Powers; performed by The Youngbloods. From the album "The Youngbloods," RCA Victor, 1967.

Ki Tissa: Faithfully

Parashat Ki Tissa is particularly famous/ infamous for two episodes: the incident of the Golden Calf, and, in its aftermath, Moses' encounter with God.

Notably, each of these two narratives evolve from the desire to understand God in ways that, according to our tradition, God simply cannot be experienced by humans.  The people who construct the Golden Calf long for a physical manifestation of the Divine presence--the gods of their neighbors all were represented in such a fashion.  It is easy to imagine that they felt a supreme sense of relief when Aaron forged the Calf and proclaimed, "Eleh Elohecha, Yisrael (this is your god, O Israel)."  It is not inconceivable that for many of them, this project was not an act of idolatry but a way of making sense of their connection to a God they could not see.

Moses exhibits similar feelings.  Having brought the Israelites thus far trusting in the leadership, guidance, and protection of this unseen God, Moses now wants some reassurance.  He asks to see God's face, but is informed that what he suggests is impossible.  Yet he still is given the opportunity to experience God's glory more directly than any other individual, and from here we learn the Divine Attributes, including the fact that God is "endlessly patient, loving, and true..."

Ever since that moment, humanity has been on an ongoing quest: to be in relationship with a God Who is unseeable, and-- in spite of this limitation which others might see as an obstacle to intimacy-- nurture a close and loving relationship with the Divine.

"Through space and time...Wondering where I am, lost without You."

We maintain our connection to God...faithfully.

Please note, I do not own-- nor do I claim to own-- these songs.  Copyrights are held by the various artists.  I include them here for illustrative purposes.
Faithfully- (Ki Tissa, Exodus 30:11-34:35)

Music and lyrics by Jonathan Cain; performed by Journey. From the album "Frontiers," Columbia, 1982.

Tetzaveh: Sharp Dressed Man

In a way, Parashat Tetzaveh explores the age-old question: do clothes make the man (or woman)?  Intricate instructions are provided for creating the priestly vestments, and then Aaron and his sons are told precisely how they should don them each time they begin their priestly duties.

I have been in professional situations in which a uniform or particular standard of dress was expected.  I've also been in settings in which employees were given great latitude in their attire.  In many cases, I think that a mandated dress code is preferable--in retail settings, it helps customers to readily identify workers if they have a question or a concern; in schools and synagogues I've found that being dressed a bit more formally helps others to take me seriously, which improves interactions with students and congregants.

But in the case of the Israelite priesthood, I don't think that the clothing was entirely for the benefit of the Israelite community.  Certainly, there were touches-- such as the bells on the hems of the priests' robes that helped to signal when they were approaching-- that were useful to the general public.  But more significantly, I think that going through the ritual of dressing for the priesthood helped Aaron and his descendants to embrace a proper mindset for their jobs.

For instance, the breastplate that the priests wore contained stones signifying each of the tribes of Israel.  And the headpiece they wore bore the inscription "Kodesh L'Adonai--Holy to God."  I'm not sure whether the priests would have had access to mirrors or other reflective surfaces in which to gaze upon themselves after being dressed, but at the very least, they would have seen these pieces as they put them on.  I imagine that it resonated strongly with them that they wore these outfits not only for their own benefit, but in service of the entire community.  The priest's garments carried message and meaning, in addition to making him a "Sharp Dressed Man."


Please note, I do not own-- nor do I claim to own-- these songs.  Copyrights are held by the various artists.  I include them here for illustrative purposes.
Sharp Dressed Man- (Tetzaveh, Exodus 27:20-30:10)

Music and lyrics by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard; performed by ZZ Top. From the album "Eliminator" Warner Brothers, 1983.