Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Each week we take a look at the Torah reading and attempt to connect that with our lives today. This week we read Parsha Tumah Ex. 25:1 - 27:19. The word "Trumah" is Hebrew for a "gift" or an "offering". From the first verse in this week's portion: "Hashem (G-d) spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the Children of Israel and let them take for me (trumah) a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion."
With the exception of the tragic issue of the Golden Calf the rest of the book of Shemot (Exodus) has to do with the preparation and the construction of the Mishkin or the Tabernacle...the "resting place for the presence of G-d". To be able to build the Tabernacle G-d instructs Moses to reach out to the people and ask for a "gift". Notice too that it is not demanded but it should come from, "...every man whose heart motivates him...".
The idea is that the gift should come from the heart with a deep desire to do something...positive. The Christian faith knows much about this as the call for the "collection plate" is preceded by that rational. In the Jewish faith, where there is no "passing of the plate" there is a "dues system" where people are assessed a figure based on their heart and their income. I have some interesting stories about that....
This week's portion continues with the details for constructing the Ark, the Table, the Menorah, the Tabernacle (the central area of worship containing the Ark, the Menorah, the Incense Altar, and the Table), the Beams composing the walls of the Tabernacle, the Cloth partition (separating the Holy of Holies where the Ark rested from the remaining Sanctuary part of the Tabernacle), the Altar and the Enclosure for the Tabernacle (surrounding curtains forming a rectangle within which was approximately 15x larger than the Tabernacle). Whew...it would seem this is an architect's or interior designer's dream portion.
But There Is More...
This Shabbat is also Shabbat Zachor which means the "Sabbath of Remembering". Shabbat Zachor precedes Purim which you can read about in the Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated next week. It is the celebration of how the Jews, through the bravery of Esther, foiled a plot that would have resulted in the killing of the entire Jewish population. The holiday is celebrated with parties (a little drink) and the reading of the Megillah or the Book of Esther.
But, what about Shabbat Zachor? This week, along with the regular Torah Portion we read Deut. 25: 17-19 the portion that deals with the deadly and cowardly attack by Amalek. If you remember they attacked and killed the Jews at the rear of the migration and the prime evil that is part of Purim was from that tribe. It is said that the evil that is in the world comes from...Amalek. We are therefore required to "Remember Amalek" and what they did.
In modern times Amalek is associated with all manner of evil.
See what you learn here?
Shabbat Shalom!
Hello
I am trying to find contact information for the synagogue on the website, such as an email.
Marc Shapiro
shapirom2 at scranton.edu
Posted by: Marc Shapiro | 02/19/2021 at 01:36 PM