In this double portion, Vayakhel/Pekudei, the Israelites put the finishing touches on the tabernacle.
The Israelites are still bringing things to the tabernacle, as they were commanded in T’rumah. They bring more embroideries, sculptures, and paintings. They donate gold, silver and bronze, bracelets, earrings, red skins of rams, goat skins, blue, purple and scarlet linens, onyx stones … You get the idea. In that portion of T’rumah Moses commands the giving of gifts (trumah) to anyone whose heart so moves them. This is the result of Moses’ exhortation.
In the throes of this generosity of sprit, in the midst of the trumah, Moses puts a screeching halt to the process.
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, ‘Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it.
It was time to stop.
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That’s what I want to talk about tonight; stopping. Every week during this time period of Shabbat, we stop the routine of daily life. In this way, Shabbat is not only a commandment to follow, it is a gift to appreciate. Just as Achad HaAm said, Just as the Jewish people have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jewish people.
In the short time period of just the last couple of days, most of us have been forced to stop all of our daily routines. They have completely changed. Many of us are working remotely, and many are with children all day at home. We aren’t meeting friends for dinner or going to the gym. And even our weekly reprieve of Shabbat has been transformed. Our services for the foreseeable future are no longer in the synagogue, but on the internet. These are sudden changes that we have been forced to get used to.
I imagine that the Israelites were confused when Moses suddenly commanded them to stop something that they had found so important and meaningful. But just as we have done throughout 4000 years of history, they adapted. As will we.
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During these days, please remember that physical distancing is not the same as social distancing. We practice social solidarity, as we know that Kol Yisrael aravim zeh bazeh - each Israelite is responsible for the other. During these weeks ahead of us, we will still pray, we will still learn, and we will certainly still observe Shabbat. These will not stop.
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Toward the end of this Torah portion, God sends a sign to the Israelites. While they travel, there will be a cloud to cover them by day, and a fire by night, thus indicating God’s presence amongst the community. Today, we must commit to cover each other. Since coming back from Israel, I have gotten several emails and messages from congregants and community members volunteering to run errands and provide help for those in need. These offerings of love should give each of us a measure of hope and comfort in the days and weeks ahead, and inspire us to do the same. Shabbat Shalom.
