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T’rumah (Exodus 25:1−27:19)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: T’rumah (Exodus 25:1−27:19)

This week we read the story of the building of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary which we carried with us during our 40 years of wandering on our way to the Promised Land. Everyone brought their gifts (t’rumah) to help in the building of this place which would be God’s home. They brought gold, silver, and copper; colored yarns, fine linen, animal skins, acacia wood; olive oil, lapis lazuli and other precious stones. And God said: “Let them make for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)

What are your gifts? How can you use them to help make a place for God in this world?

T’rumah Summary:

God asks the Children of Israel to donate gifts (t’rumah) for the building of the Tabernacle so that God may “dwell among them.” (25:1-9) Instructions for the construction of the Ark, table, and menorah are provided. (25:10-40) Detailed directions are given on how to build the Tabernacle. (26:1-27:19)This week we read the story of the building of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary which we carried with us during our 40 years of wandering on our way to the Promised Land. Everyone brought their gifts (t’rumah) to help in the building of this place which would be God’s home. They brought gold, silver, and copper; colored yarns, fine linen, animal skins, acacia wood; olive oil, lapis lazuli and other precious stones. And God said: “Let them make for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)

What are your gifts? How can you use them to help make a place for God in this world?

Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1−24:18)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1−24:18)

“Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” (Emma Lazarus)

Sometimes the moment arrives… and we are not yet ready for that moment. This week’s Torah portion is just such a moment. The Children of Israel stand at the foot of Mount Sinai with the words of the Ten Commandments still echoing in our ears, completing our journey from slavery to freedom, and here the Torah turns to the laws of slavery. “When you acquire a Hebrew slave, they shall serve for six years and on the seventh year they shall go free.” (Exodus 21:2)

The moment arrives and we are not ready. We were slaves in Egypt and one might think this would be the time for us to abolish slavery, for we knew the heart of the oppressed. But we didn’t. Slavery was too engrained in our souls, too much a part of the world all around us, for us to even think of abolishing slavery altogether. Instead, we established laws for the better treatment of our slaves, and first among them was that after six years of servitude our slaves would go free. There was a promise of liberation, but that liberation was delayed.

It took us longer to learn and live God’s ultimate lesson of liberation:
“Until we are all free, we are none of us free.”

Mishpatim Summary:

Interpersonal laws ranging from the treatment of slaves to the exhibition of kindness to strangers are listed. (21:1-23:9) Cultic laws follow, including the commandment to observe the Sabbatical Year, a repetition of the Sabbath injunction, the first mention of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, rules of sacrificial offerings, and the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother’s milk. (23:10-19) The people assent to the covenant. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ascend the mountain and see God. Moses goes on alone and spends forty days on the mountain. (24:1-18)

Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23)

In this week’s Torah Portion Yitro, Moses writes and then reads aloud the words of the Torah and all the people respond “na’aseh v’nishma,” “We will do and we will hear” (24:7). The people of Israel accept the Torah as there own, but the rabbis notice that the order of their response to Moses seems backwards. Shouldn’t they have said: “We will listen to these words of Torah and then we will do them”?

I mean who says to God: “Yes I will do all that you ask,” and only then listens to what needs to be done? Apparently we do. And, in terms of the eternal covenant between God and the Children of Israel, this does make sense. If a friend or a parent or someone you love were to say: “Will you do something for me?” Might you not respond: “Sure, what is it?”

God is offering you the Torah, a path of justice and righteousness for you to walk. The question now becomes, what will you say, and what will you do?

Yitro Summary:

Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses. (18:1-12)
Moses follows Yitro’s advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27)
The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai. Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, “All that God has spoken we will do.” (19:1-8)
After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25)
God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14)
Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them. Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18)

B’shalach (Exodus 13:17−17:16)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: B’shalach (Exodus 13:17−17:16)

“Adonai said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on’”

Just before the greatest miracle in our History, the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, Adonai says to Moses, “Why are you crying? Do something.” What a great lesson. You want God’s help – work for it. Creating miracles in our lives is our responsibility.

B’shalach Summary:

The Children of Israel escape across the Sea of Reeds from Pharaoh and his army, who drown when God drives back the sea. (13:17-14:31)
Moses and the Israelites sing a song praising Adonai. (15:1-21)
In the wilderness, God provides the grumbling Israelites with quails and manna. God instructs the Israelites to gather and prepare on the sixth day food needed for Shabbat. (15:22-16:36)
The people complain about the lack of water. Moses hits a rock with his rod and brings forth water. (17:1-7)
Israel defeats Amalek, Israel’s eternal enemy. God vows to blot out the memory of Amalek from the world. (17:8-16)

“Adonai said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on”

Just before the greatest miracle in our History, the crossing of the sea of Reeds, Adonai says to Moses, why are you crying to me? Do something. What a great lesson. You want God’s help – work for it. Creating miracles in our lives is our responsibility.