Adar 25, 5780 / March 20-21, 2020
Parashat Vayak’hel/Pekudei - Shabbat HaChodesh
Torah: Exodus 35:1 – 40:38
Maftir (HaChodesh): Exodus 12:1-20
Haftarah (HaChodesh): Ezekiel 45:16 – 46:18
Candle lighting: 6:46 pm
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SERVICE OF THE HEART
"Take from among you gifts to the Lord; everyone whose heart
so moves him shall bring them ... Every man and woman whose heart moved them to
bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded to be done, through
Moses; the Israelites brought free will offerings to the
Lord." Exodus 35:5; 35:29
The free-will gifts mentioned here relate to the construction of
the tabernacle and the ritual objects and vestments utilized by the Israelite
priests. With no more Temple in Jerusalem, we have found different ways
to make holy gifts, in the form of tzedakah (charity)
and gemilut chasadim (deeds of lovingkindness). For Purim, we
have Mishlo’ach Manot (sending gifts of food) and Matanot
L’evyonim (gifts of food or money to the poor). For Pesach we
have Ma’ot Chittin (tzedakah specifically so the poor can
observe the festival). Although these are mitzvot, acts which are commanded, we
must admit that we give more and we do more when our hearts are moved to do so.
We have been told by our Rabbis that the Temple was destroyed
because of sin'at chinam, senseless hatred, and that we will be
redeemed through ahavat chinam, senseless love of our fellow human
beings.
Observance of the mitzvot may be seen as a form of worship – just
as our prayer services are. Perhaps our path to redemption, for ourselves, for
our communities, and for our world, is for our hearts to be constantly moved
with love of these mitzvot and of those who benefit from them, so that we
continually engage in Avodat HaLev - the service of the heart
Our society too often appears to be engaged in a struggle between
love and hate, between caring for each other and treating people like they were
disposable. COVID-19 gives us the opportunity to show with crystal clarity
where we stand – as individuals and as a people. Yes, Pesach is coming in three
weeks – but members of our community are in need NOW!
God promises us through Ezekiel (36:26 – the haftarah we read last
week for Shabbat Parah), "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit
into you; I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart
of flesh."
Don’t wait for God’s heart transplant! Don't wait until your heart
moves you! Move your heart!
Shabbat Shalom!
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This d’var torah is offered in memory of my
father-in-law, Abraham Kronzek, whose yahrzeit falls on Thursday, Nisan 1. Y’hi
zikhro liv’rakhah – his memory is a blessing.
This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for
Elisheva bat Malkah, Chanah bat Minnie Leah, Leah bat Sarah Imanu, Sarah bat
Devorah, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Mark Brownstein, Stana
Cooper, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel
Natan ben Gittel), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Gabor Klein, Philip Kronzek,
Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Imanu), Martin Lee, Barbara Levy, Gail
Neiman, Sandra Raab, Josef Sands, Shirley Sands, Gina Seeman, Debra Schugar
Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat Kreina), and
William Sragow.
Please let us know if there is anyone you would like to
add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.
Rabbi
Richard A. Flom
Temple
B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence
in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT
Yevamot 88a
