From The Rabbi’s Study…Shabbat, February 1, 2024/ 21 Adar I, 5784
The Torah summary:
G-d instructs Moses to collect a half-shekel from every person over the age of twenty when he takes the census of the community. Moses is told that the sanctuary’s furnishings are to be fashioned by the skilled artisan Bezalel. Moses reminds the people that in observing the Sabbath they celebrate the covenant between themselves and G-d. Moses is given the two tablets on Mount Sinai. Forty days have passed, and the Israelites have asked Aaron to make a golden calf. Aaron agrees. When Moses sees the gold calf, he shatters the tablets. G-d directs Moses to carve two tablets and return to Mount Sinai. After the second forty days, Moses returns to the people, radiant from speaking to G-d. He covers his face with a veil.
Judaism forbids the worshiping of idols, and yet Aaron (Moses’ older brother) agrees to make a golden calf. One has to remember that the Israelites just fled from Egyptian slavery and some had been influenced by idol worshiping. Some of the Israelites believed G-d would dwell within the Golden Calf. Some commentators write about the fear and panic of the Israelites because of the delay of Moses from Mount Sinai. Aaron may have been stalling for time. The women refused to give their wedding bands and gold earrings to make the idol. So, did Aaron fail in leadership? Did he act nobly in one moment and poorly in the next? This was a warning that while human beings act with good intentions that they are capable of doing harm in the next phase of their actions.
Human beings can never imagine or describe G-d, however this Torah portion has moral qualities from the rabbis listed. “The Lord! A G-d compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, rich in kindness and truth, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet G-d will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7). The verses comprising the thirteen attributes are recited before the open ark on all Jewish holidays except when the holiday falls on the Sabbath.
The Torah verse “You must keep My Shabbatot, for it is a sign between Me and You throughout the ages, that you may know that I , the Eternal, have made you Holy” (Exodus 31:13). Two things are pointed out. The first is “You” must keep the Shabbat because it is the sign of a contract we made. The Second is “If you” keep Shabbat you will know that G-d makes us holy. So, how does our keeping the Shabbat teach us that G-d makes us holy?
While each practices Judaism in a myriad of ways, by keeping Shabbat and making Shabbat part of our life each of us acts on the belief that the world was created in six days and that G-d rested on the seventh. Keeping the Sabbath is an act of emunah/faith, one which is equal to all the commandments.
The rising of Anti-Semitism throughout the campuses in our country and the heinous attack on Israel and as Jewish people we should gather together for Shabbat or holidays makes us stronger and ONE NATION. Many send support to Israel, many of us support our congregation and other Jewish organizations especially in challenging times. Worshiping together separates the mundane from the holy sacred moments. Entering into a sanctuary and praying one focuses on the prayer and reduces your blood pressure. The Sabbath is G-d’s gift to all of us to relax and reflect, and rejuvenate ourselves.
May this Shabbat bring us together in happiness, health and peace.
Shabbat Shalom v’Am Ysrael Chai,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
