D’var Torah – March 21
Shabbat Shalom!
I hope this finds you all well.
My wife and I love looking up and trying workouts that are designed and recommended by those in the know – be they fitness gurus, celebrity personal trainers, social media influencers, championship sports teams, and elite military units. Why? Because they’re fun to try, we enjoy the challenge, and they force us to dig deep and push ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
There’s one workout I’ll never forget seeing (although, sadly, I can’t find it on YouTube anymore). A group of Marine option NROTC midshipmen are about to commence a grueling circuit workout of planks, lunges, curl-ups, push-ups, rope climbs, weight lifting, and, of course, constant running throughout. Their trainer, a seasoned Gunnery Sergeant, calls them together and says, “You’re going to get out of this what you put into it.” Not, “You better ace this thing,” or “I don’t want to see any of you taking it easy on yourselves.” His sublime words are fatherly and parental, and thus I’ve found great inspiration in them.
In this week’s parsha of Vayakhel (35:1-38:20), Moses tells the people to donate their personal items to build and furnish the Mishkan, the Tabernacle – God’s dwelling places among Israel. He says:
“Take from among you gifts to God; everyone whose heart is so moved shall bring them—gifts for God – gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, and goats’ hair; tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense; lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and the breastpiece.” (Exodus 35:5-9*)
What happened? Well, we’re told the following:
“And everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit was moved came, bringing to God an offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service and for the sacral vestments. Men and women, all whose hearts moved them, all who would make an elevation offering of gold to God, came bringing brooches, earrings, rings, and pendants—gold objects of all kinds. And everyone who possessed blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned ram skins, and dolphin skins, brought them; everyone who would make gifts of silver or copper brought them as gifts for God; and everyone who possessed acacia wood for any work of the service brought that. And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen. And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair. And the chieftains brought lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece; and spices and oil for lighting, for the anointing oil, and for the aromatic incense. Thus the Israelites, all the men and women whose hearts moved them to bring anything for the work that God, through Moses, had commanded to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to God.” (Exodus 35:22-29*)
Wow! This surprising and unexpected outpouring of time, talent, and treasure is so immense that Moses declares, “Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the sanctuary!” (Exodus 36:6) The Torah adds “their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done.” (Exodus 36:6-7*)
This incredible lesson brings up a powerful lesson and thought-provoking question, namely, how much effort do we put into our relationships with others and those organizations that we care about? Do we honestly spend enough helping out a friend in need, quality time with our beloved spouses, mentoring and teaching our children, volunteering in our congregations and communities, and developing our junior colleagues at work? All too often we hear people say, “I wish my civic club had this,” or “I wish my congregation did that,” or “why isn’t my kid able to hit home runs, speak three languages, or perform calculus equations,” yet, do not take the time, space, or initiative to stand up, lead, and effect those changes. The Israelites in Vayakhel definitely show us what right looks like.
As Rabbi Ben He He of the Talmud famously and succinctly taught, “According to the labor is the reward.” (Pirkei Avot 5:23*)
Bizrat HaShem, with God’s help, may we get out of life, our endeavors, and our relationships what we put into them, and may our reward always reflect our labor.
Wishing you a Good Shabbos and a great weekend.
Bivrakha,
Rabbi Aaron Stucker-Rozovsky
Beth El Congregation | 520 Fairmont Ave, Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 667-1889 (office)