As we come to the end of the book of Exodus, I wanted to reflect with you how the theme of freedom is illuminated by the building of the mishkan/ sanctuary. I also decided to make a change in the format of the newsletter. The word of Torah will now precede the intention and the song since the latter sometimes flows from the former. Happy to hear your opinions about the change. michael (michaelstrassfeld.com; mjstrassfeld@gmail.com)
A word of Torah: This week we finish reading the Book of Exodus, which begins with the enslavement of the Jewish people and ends with the building of the mishkan/sanctuary. Many commentators point out that the language of completing the sanctuary parallels the language of the first week of creation. (Moses va-yikhal/completed the sanctuary (Ex. 40:33) just as God completed/va-yikhal creation (Gen. 2:2). This suggests that the ongoing unfolding of the world’s creation is in human hands. Hopefully we will build this world in a way that echoes God’s words at the end of each day of creation: “it was good/tov.” The portable sanctuary will accompany the Israelites for the rest of their journey toward the Promised Land—a manifestation that God is their traveling companion. I want to suggest that there is another way that the building of the sanctuary is a fitting conclusion to a book called Exodus. It is a contrast to the Israelite’s experience of slavery in Egypt. There they are forced to build store cities. Here they also engage in a building project but the profound difference is that they build the sanctuary out of free will. They voluntarily donate to and participate in the building process. It is the only building campaign in history to refuse contributions because people gave more than was necessary! The phrase used to describe the campaign calls on people to give “asher yidvenu libo/whose heart so moves him (Ex. 25:2). This ability is the mark of a free person. It is not just that the person is not a slave forced to work. It is not just that the person owns things and can decide to give them away. It is the definition of freedom:
“Nadav, being generous of heart, indicates a flowing out from within. Nadiv, one who is generous, is one whose actions arise solely from the dictates of his own inner self, free, independent. This voluntary nature of the action is quite specially stressed. Any and every compelling influence, or even any exterior directing influence is definitely excluded…Even at the moment of bringing it, the bringer is to be generous of heart; he is still to be completely master over his decision…”
Samson Raphael Hirsch (Commentary on Exodus p. 671)
Such giving can only be done by someone who is free. She doesn’t struggle with letting go of her wealth. She doesn’t give for any reason other than she wants to support this cause or project. It is open handed generosity that sees things as not hers to acquire and accumulate, but rather as a means to make the world a better, more tov/good place. God says” k’hu mei-itkhem/take from you. What you are really giving is yourself. It is a fitting end to a book called Exodus. It is a challenge to each of us to live a life of real freedom.
Intention/kavana for the week
One of the important principles we strive to live by is generosity as suggested in this week's Torah. There are others that we not only live by them but they give us life as a literal reading of this week's song suggests.
Each day this week, use the song or your own words and take a moment to reflect on what are some of the important principles that shape your life
Song:
L'olam lo eshkah pikudekha
ki vam hiyitani
Never forget your principles
because you live by them
Ps. 119:93
