Naso ~ Alone Together

In Naso, the jews are inaugurating the mishkan, the tent or temple that is created in the desert (which we talked about in B'midbar) . There are several really interesting ideas here. The first is the offerings, or silver platters. Each of the twelve tribes must bring one on each of twelve days. One each day. Some midrash asks why the Torah says there are 12 on the 12th day, shouldn't there be just the one? It seems that the Torah is referring to the totality of all the tribes offerings, making the first offering and the last offering of equal value. Or, viewed another way that the last is as important as the first since the mishkan, the sanctification, is incomplete without all the offerings. Thus is the entire nation of the Jews required for this holy task. There is another interesting idea in Naso that ultimately relates to the first. It is the idea of separation. The Jews are separated by who will transport, who will guard and who will leave the portable sanctuary, the mishkan. One commentary I read talks about the idea that you can see this two ways. First, because it is all related to the sanctification of the sanctuary, we are all "children of G-d", of the same nation of Jews. Conversely, it could be seen as "we each are separate, having our own job to do". I think both are true, we are all of the same nation, children of the same G-d. In this context we are all necessary to each other as each tribe was necessary to the completion of the mishkan. But we are also all separate. We are individuals, as G-d made us, with different talents, skills and stations. Not all stations in life are equal but they are all dependent on the others. No person is the proverbial island, able to survive on their own. In ancient times the Priest needed the waterbearer, etc. you get the idea. And so we are each our own selves, special, separate and individual. But we are made greater, stronger and more special by our unity as a nation of people, bound together by tradition, purpose and faith. In this way G-d has given us the best of both; our uniqueness and our interdependence, all wrapped up in one.

B'midbar ~ The Journey Into Faith

Okay, here goes. This week begins the book of Numbers, B'midbar, which means variously "in the wilderness" or "in the desert" which seems to get the most votes. It gets the most votes because the symbolism of the desert is critical at many junctures in the Torah. This portion begins, among other things, with the "counting" of every Jew; and this is not the first time, G-d counts the Jews all the time. One Chasidic commentary talks about the paradoxical truth contained in the counting. First, that it implies that each of us is individually important, special, and to be counted separately because we are individuals. Second, it implies the ultimate humility, that each of us is entirely equal, of exactly similar value. This is the same idea that underlies our fundamental democratic ideal, that each of us has an exactly equal voice, no more or less than any other. There are many ideas about why G-d chooses to put the Mishkan, the tent, the sacred space in the desert, and there to give the Torah. One idea is that it was given in the desert because it belongs to nobody and therefore no "place" can claim the Torah for its own, that each who seek it may find it. The one that appeals to me most today, is the idea of outside and inside. As we leave Leviticus, we leave the Mishkan, safety and plenty and begin the journey into the wilderness. The symbolism of the desert as the place to find spiritual completeness has had many commenters. I find it more interesting that the journey into the wilderness is the ultimate journey of faith. So as we leave the safer place, the tents of Jacob, the sacred spaces, what we are given to sustain us is not food, or water, or material things; it is the Torah, faith. From this grows the idea that when we do our part, whatever that is; when we do our best and can do no more, the rest is up to G-d and only faith remains. In the counting we are reminded that each of us is important, that G-d has concern for the welfare of each of us, not just the welfare of the whole. In the counting we are also reminded that G-d loves us as we are, as we were made, each of us unique and special, to be counted separately. In this way we are reminded of our relationship with the divine, our own special unique relationship. It is easy sometimes to feel the presence of the divine "inside the tent", in our services, among our families or our friends, in whatever group gives us solace and strength. It is much harder to find the divine "outside the tent". In this portion we know that when we are outside the tent, seemingly alone in the midst of life's struggles and sorrows, G-d is with us, faith can sustain us and our unique life is the greatest gift. In the end it is the journey into the desert, into our faith, that enables gratitude, compassion, joy. Shabbat Shalom.

Just To Be Clear ~ Everyone's Welcome

This is by way of clarification....I welcome everyone and anyone to comment, contribute or otherwise enrich this blog site. I hope to begin a robust interchange of insights by ordinary, or extraordinary, people. I know lots of them; most of them are women, I are one too. But many of those whose ideas about Torah I respect are men and I hope they will feel free to join the discussion. Girltalk is a euphemism for honest, open and relaxed conversation about ideas of mutual interest. So whatever you are, your midrash are welcome, that's the whole point. I will post my first humble effort for tomorrow's shabbat...B'midbar.

D'var Torah

We have this really cool idea in Judaism, that anyone can and should interpret the Torah. In our world it is not just the Rabbis that have the power, intellect, right, whatever to interpret scripture. In our world scripture is personal, to be understood and explicated by each of us. I love doing this. I particularly love writing the D'var Torah for a shabbat service (this is equivalent to the sermon, its a commentary). Finding a theme, particularly one that resonates in the modern world, is not always easy. Some Torah portions are filled with terrible things. This week was all about the punishing God, the torments to be inflicted if we don't observe all the rules. Its a difficult portion unless but the good news is that God loves us nevertheless. The last one I wrote on was all about skin sores (often interpreted as leprosy) and things unclean. I have been asked to write about this particular portion several times; not easy or attractive (its just a matter of dates). Each time the Rabbi says the teachers at the seminary say only the best get to write this portion because it is so difficult. I think he is just glad I did it, rather than leaving it to him! Nevertheless, it is interesting to do. It stretches my mind. And it makes me glad to be a Jew, because everyone's Midrash (commentary) is welcome and encouraged. I love that egalitarian approach to the bible, to religion. And while I know that in the more orthodox corners of our religion women's commentaries are not always welcome, I sit in a corner where my view is solicited, welcomed and praised. How cool is that?