What’s New at Beth El – IAC event, Sisterhood, and more
February 16, 2020 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
PLEASE join us tonight at 7 PM as we welcome Shabbat. Friends old and new will be there.
Rabbi Peter Tarlow’s Weekly Parashah:
When we read this week’s Torah portion, we note what appears to be a sharp contrast between the last two lofty weekly Bible sections (Yitro and Misphatim) and this week’s portion called Trumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19). In the last two sections we read of profound ideals, such as the giving of the Ten Commandments and of lessons on the way we are to actualize these goals. Now abruptly, the Torah’s style changes course and suddenly goes from grand idealism to stark reality. We read: “Dabber el Bnai-Yisrael vYikchu li trumah me’et col ish asher yiddbenu libo/Speak to the children of Israel saying that whoever is so willing, that person should bring me an offering.” (25:2)
This strange turn of events leaves us somewhat in a state of intellectual bewilderment. Why after all of the fire and glory connected to the giving of the Ten Commandments, does G-d’s next sentence state that He desires nothing more than for us to bring Him gold and precious skins? Perhaps the answer to our dilemma is found in the materials that we are asked to provide. The text tells us that the materials requested are to create a covering for the Mishcan /Tabernacle. Interestingly, the Hebrew verbal root “s-c-h” is the same root as the word used to describe the “Golden Calf” (Egel Masechah = the golden/molten calf). What might the text be teaching us by means of this subtle use of the same verbal root?
Is there more to this strange flow of ideas than we might at first imagine? Perhaps the meaning can be found in the tale of the golden calf. The Torah recognizes that all humans make mistakes. Even whole peoples err, such as in the case of the golden calf. To go astray is human nature, it is part of being human. From the Torah’s perspective the issue is not that we
err, we all do, but rather what do we realize that we have made a mistake, how do we repair the damage that our errors cause?
The Hebrew Bible is wise enough to realize words are often all too easy to say, but difficult to put into action. Truth is not what we say, but the actions that come because of our words. Is this week’s section teaching us that by its careful use of vocabulary, that real change occurs not due to our words but due to our willingness to actualize our words, to make real changes in the way that we choose to live our lives? To err is human, but to repeat the same error is to be sinful.
The offering that G-d asks from us is not our gold or precious skins, but rather our willingness to make the needed sacrifices to change the direction of our life and to be willing to rebuild broken relationships with others and with ourselves. The text teaches us that what we say is a much less important than what we do. Do you agree?
Shabbat candle lighting time in Austin 6:00 PM
The next sisterhood book club selection is a Jewish book club favorite, “Rashi’s Daughters. Book 1: Joheved”. We will be getting together in the Spring to discuss, so please get your copy and read away.
Friday January 28th at 6:30 PM SCOUT SHABBAT!
Join Beth El and Jewish girl and boy scouts from all over Austin, including the Troops at the J, as we celebrate Scout Shabbat at Beth El! Services will be at 6:30 PM and a fun pasta dinner will be served after. Open to all!
