Stand up and be counted

Rabbi Philip Weintraub

Parshat Mishpatim/Shabbat Shekalim 2015

February 14, 2015

Congregation Agudas Israel

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I ask you what today is?

Shabbat?

Valentine’s Day?

Simchat Shabbat?

Day of Rest?

I think this week’s parsha and haftorah may actually connect all of those days.  I think it integrates the ideas of law, love, accountability and asks us all to stand up and be counted.  If you were following along as I read the Torah, you may be wondering exactly how these disparate ideas come together?

When we celebrated Shabbat dinner last week, I mentioned the Midrash from Genesis Rabbah.  Rabbi Noam Zion from the Hartman Institute helped me find the specific citation!

The Midrash Genesis Rabbah 11:8 attests to the love affair between Israel and the Sabbath by likening them to husband and wife. According to this Midrash, God paired all the days of the week: Sunday had Monday, Tuesday had Wednesday, Thursday had Friday. Only Shabbat was left alone. (p.102)

The Sabbath came before the Holy One and said: “Sovereign of the Universe. All the other days have a mate; am I to be without one?”

The Holy One said to it: “The Community of Israel shall be your mate.” As it is said, “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it le-qaddesho [here read]: to betroth it [as in kiddushin].” (Ex. 20:8)

What a beautiful image of Shabbat marrying the people Israel. The metaphor is expanded by a medieval Kabbalistic rabbi:

Rabbi Yisrael Elnekaveh quotes a Midrash that develops an extended marital analogy:

Just as the Kallah arrives before the Hatan, dressed beautifully, with jewelry and perfume,

So Shabbat arrives before Israel dressed beautifully with jewelry….

Just as the Hatan is dressed in magnificent attire, so a person should dress magnificently for Shabbat.

Just as the Hatan enjoys pleasures all seven days of the wedding,  so a person should indulge in pleasures on Shabbat.

Just as the Hatan takes off from work, so does person refrain for work for Shabbat….

One should not eat on Shabbat afternoon so as to enter Shabbat with an appetite,

just as the Hatan fasts from food and drink on the day of the wedding.

So a person should be very careful to sanctify Shabbat with wine,

Just as Hatan is careful to sanctify (kiddushin) his bride [with wine].

(Sefer HaPeliah I 36b)

http://hartman.org.il/Blogs_View.asp?Article_Id=1431&Cat_Id=275&Cat_Type=Blogs

In other texts, the image is expanded to say that it is not just Shabbat that the people Israel marry, but rather GD!  Innumerable texts compare the Torah to the ketubah and in many Sephardic communities, on the holiday of Shavuot, there is a special ketubah read celebrating the marriage of Israel to Gd.  This concept is reinforced on a daily basis through recitation of verses from Hosea 2:21-22 when we put on Tefillin.  The entire book of Hosea emphasizes this relationship, reminding the people Israel that there was no Get, that Gd did not divorce or abandon Israel, even as our ancestors strayed and worshiped idols.

(Photo from http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Shavuot/In_the_Community/Shavuot_Hymns/Sephardic_Ketubah.shtml)

In an image I have mentioned before, marriage is a contract between two people and the Holy One.  We promise to provide for the needs of one another, to treat each other with a certain level of care, and in a Jewish marriage, to acknowledge that these commitments are spoken before GD.  Strangely, in secular culture, these obligations are not always the priority.  Many in this country think that defending marriage is about preventing some loving couples from being married, rather than in recognizing the sacredness of their own relationships!  Some even neglect their own spouses while denying the marriages of others?  

Marriage is a covenant, with laws and obligations.  Whether those are around food, clothing, intimacy or putting the dishes away, the rules of marriage are many.  Yet these rules are an expression of love.  In the same way, the Torah is a gift BECAUSE of the laws, NOT DESPITE THEM!

Some Shabbat mornings we sing from Psalm 19:

תּוֹרַת יְהוָה תְּמִימָה, מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ;    עֵדוּת יְהוָה נֶאֱמָנָה, מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי.	8 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
ט  פִּקּוּדֵי יְהוָה יְשָׁרִים, מְשַׂמְּחֵי-לֵב;    מִצְוַת יְהוָה בָּרָה, מְאִירַת עֵינָיִם.	9 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2619.htm

These laws keep us accountable.  In our parsha this week, we follow the sacred moment of the Giving of the Torah, the Revelation, with all sorts of little details.  Yet it is in these details, that the most holy moments are found.  We are commanded to help the animals of our enemy.  If we live in a time when slavery is allowed, slaves must be treated with respect and not overburdened--they must even be paid.  Lex talionis--an eye for an eye is mentioned, yet the rabbis teach us that it was NEVER taken literally.  Instead financial compensation for compensatory AND punitive damages were required.  The laws teach us how to be holy people.  It is not just the words here, but how they have been applied from generation to generation.  The Torah is the start, but it is not the end.

The Torah is renewed in every generation.  We all stood at Sinai and we remain there today.  Just as we recently read about Gd freeing us from Egypt, on Pesach we will re enact it.  We must act as if we were there ourselves--because we were.  As such, this Shabbat is a special one.  Shabbat Shekalim tells us that Adar is soon, that it is almost time to rejoice with Purim, but it also tells us to stand up and be counted.  The special Maftir and the Haftorah tell of the half-shekel that served as the census of the Jewish people.  Counting Jews was not something Gd approved of directly.  Instead, we count through donations and math.  In this census, each individual (male Jew of military age) donated an equal amount.  Whether rich or poor, everyone contributed equally.  Elsewhere free will donations were accepted to the best of one’s ability, but for this, every single person gave the same.  Every single person’s contribution was as important as anyone else’s.

Today, as we stand on the threshold of our new addition, every person’s contributions are valued.  We have not asked for a standard contribution, but we have asked everyone to contribute something.  I would like to see a second thermometer outside, not with money, but with participation.  When every single person has given something, then this community will be a successful one. This is a twofold statement.  To support our community now means to support Kol Yisrael, to ensure this home is outfitted to our needs.  Yet it also means to support CAI, to ensure that we have the programs and the religious leaders that we want.  That is my soft sell campaign.  Traditionally, Shabbat Shekalim was a time when Jewish communities asked their members for support.  Last week I reminded you to stand up and participate, this week I ask you to stand up and contribute.

Without reading or seeing 50 Shades you should now understand, that love and law are the same and demand accountability--stand up and be counted.

Burned out? Talk to Moses!

Rabbi Philip Weintraub

Congregation Agudas Israel

2/7/14

Earlier this week, I spent a fair amount of time trying to find the answer to a simple question: How long does it take for a train to pass through a street crossing.  I emailed the NYPL “ask the librarian”, emailed the Library of Congress, called a half dozen people at the MTA and Metro North and could not get a straight answer.  Klaus did the simple math and came up with about 45 seconds.  Forty five seconds.  Before I continue, I want to ask us to take 45 seconds to mourn the loss of those killed in the tragic accident this week in Valhalla.

(wait 45 seconds)

Can we afford to wait 45 seconds?  Can we NOT afford to wait that time?  We live in a very impatient society.  Every moment of our lives we expect to DO something or BE somewhere.  We rarely just look out the window when we are passengers in a car or train, but rather work or play on our electronic devices.  Every moment is another opportunity and we do not want to miss anything!

Reading this week’s parsha, I think of the connection between Moses and his father-in-law, Yitro, for whom the parsha is named, and wonder if our desire for productivity is new.

13 Next day, Moses sat as magistrate among the people, while the people stood about Moses from morning until evening. 14 But when Moses' father-in-law saw how much he had to do for the people, he said, "What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you act alone, while all the people stand about you from morning until evening?"15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, "It is because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a dispute, it comes before me, and I decide between one person and another, and I make known the laws and teachings of God."

17 But Moses' father-in-law said to him, "The thing you are doing is not right; 18 you will surely wear yourself out, and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone. 19 Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You represent the people before God: you bring the disputes before God, 20 and enjoin upon them the laws and the teachings, and make known to them the way they are to go and the practices they are to follow. 21 You shall also seek out from among all the people capable men who fear God, trustworthy men who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and 22 let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you. 23 If you do this — and God so commands you — you will be able to bear up; and all these people too will go home unwearied."

24 Moses heeded his father-in-law and did just as he had said. 25 Moses chose capable men out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people — chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens; 26 and they judged the people at all times: the difficult matters they would bring to Moses, and all the minor matters they would decide themselves. 27Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell, and he went his way to his own land. (NJPS from http://www.jtsa.edu/PreBuilt/ParashahArchives/jpstext/yitro.shtml)

The most important part of that is as following.

נָבֹל תִּבֹּל--גַּם-אַתָּה, גַּם-הָעָם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר עִמָּךְ:  כִּי-כָבֵד מִמְּךָ הַדָּבָר, לֹא-תוּכַל עֲשֹׂהוּ לְבַדֶּךָ.

18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee; for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

Yitro recognizes that if Moses tries to do everything alone he cannot succeed.  Recently I have had discussions with people about my vision of leadership for this community and in general.  For us all to succeed, we need cooperation.  We need people to step up and do their parts.  It not effective if I or the executive board does everything.  We will get tired; we will irritate our families; we will burn out.  Rather, if we work together, we can create truly historical accomplishments.  Our community has a storied history, and we have much growth and potential ahead of us.

While I was in Israel, one of the topics of the conference I attended was about the importance of self-care, of taking care of oneself.  We have all seen what happens when one person in a couple gets ill.  If the partner focuses ALL of their energy on the other, they too quickly succumb to illness.  When they can find other resources, help for themselves, time to recuperate, they are able to support their loved one AND themselves.  When they do not, the consequences can be tragic.  On a personal level, no matter how many reminders I gave myself, I overdid it on my last day.  I took too long a hike with too heavy a backpack and did not drink enough.  Not long after I found myself dehydrated!  Instead of a seeing the Chagall windows at Hadassah hospital after my tour of the amazing new Wolfson Tower, I saw the inside of the ER while I had tests done and got some IV fluids.  While it was fascinating to see how differently medicine works in Israel, that is not the way I wanted to find out about Israeli medicine!  Strangest part of the experience was when the doctor offered me a painkiller available in Israel and Europe and then decided it wasn’t a great idea, since it is more effective than tylenol, but very rarely can shut down your immune system and kill you.  That’s an interesting metaphor on choice--something that can make your life better or kill you!  I chose life (and tylenol!)

Returning to my opening, I do not know what happened to the driver who found her car on the tracks in Valhalla.  Whatever happened it is a tragic loss to all involved.  On a side note, be careful.  Do not drive on the tracks until you have a clear path off of them.  If the bars ever start coming down while you are on the tracks, floor it off the track--either direction.  The bars are made to break.  Your car is little more than the equivalent of a soda can to a locomotive going 60mph!  

Yet it is not just the train tracks that are the dangers in our lives.  Work, school, family, even synagogue life can all bring us great joy and also much stress.  As we look to the years to come, as we continue the construction of this building and of our souls, may we work smarter and not harder.  May we bring our whole selves to our endeavors, but not in a way that harms our health.  May we remember to eat right, exercise and take care of the bodies that allow our souls to flourish.  Shabbat Shalom.