Dig Deep

THE PARSHA
This week’s Parsha (Torah Portion), Terumah, is the first of many dealing with the construction of the Mishkan. The Mishkan is translated as “The Tabernacle” in English (which is not really a good translation because there are probably more people that know who shot JFK than there are people who know what the heck a “Tabernacle” is). This is the structure that would serve “as the resting place for G-d’s presence in the Israelite camp.”

The Torah Portion begins with G-d speaking to Moses saying, “Take for me an offering (terumah); from every man whose heart makes him willing you will take my offering (terumah).” (Exodus 25:4) The Torah then goes on to describe the various building materials that are requested of the people and it is only in the eighth sentence of the Parsha that the Torah explain that these various donations would be used for the construction of the Mishkan, “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I might dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8). The obvious question is: why would G-d tell Moses to gather these various terumah donations from the Israelites before anyone knew what they were to be used for?

A QUICK DIGRESSION
As a medical student, I spend a lot of time in a community hospital. Just about every day there are signs up for various events that can only succeed with the community’s participation—canned food collections, blood drives, bone marrow drives, etc… In my haste to make it to class or to-and-from the library I often find myself walking past these events. I tell myself that I will come back and donate blood after lunch or that I will bring some old clothes to give to the local homeless shelter the following day but naturally something else comes up. This is not because I don’t care; I am sure that if I was sitting at home making dinner one night and a hungry, naked person came to my door asking for a blood transfusion that I would do my best to help him out without blinking an eye…

BACK TO THE PARSHA
In his commentary to this week’s Parsha, Rashi explains that each Israelite gave at least one half-shekel of silver. Though everyone gave something, only those who merited it were inspired to dig deep into their pockets and come forward with the magnificent terumah offerings that were used to build the Mishkan. Had everyone known their donations would be used directly in building the Mishkan—which would then allow G-d’s Heavenly Presence to dwell amongst them—certainly they would have raced to find their checkbooks because of the immediate benefit of their actions. Yet were this the case then the decision to give would have be obvious, there would be no choice involved, no Free Will, and thus no terumah offerings (which by definition are voluntarily given). And as we have learned, only materials donated by a “Willing Heart” (Yidvenu Libo) could be used to construct the Mishkan. Thus it was necessary for G-d to conceal the purpose of the terumah offerings from Moses and The Israelites.

THE KESHER/CONNECTION
Just as Moses went to the Israelites and ask them to give terumah offerings, we too are provided with ample opportunities volunteer for our communities. Like our ancestors, we are blessed with the Free Will to act and the Free Will to passively wait and hope that others will act in our place. Most likely no one will show up at your door tonight asking for a pint of Type A Blood, but I can promise you that there is someone out there who needs it. Step up to The Plate. Shabat Shalom U’M’Vorach…

ONE LAST THING
Bone Marrow—it’s wicked important—you need it to live. So do people who have leukemia or lymphoma. Those of us who are healthy have a lot of bone marrow and more than enough to share with anyone who might be in need of a transplant. This is even more important amongst Jews—a genetically similar population—where one Jew’s bone marrow is very likely to be a good match for another Jew seeking a donor. Check out the website, get tested (it only takes a few minutes), and help a brother out: http://www.giftoflife.org/

ONE OTHER LAST THING
I know the picture of the mouse and the frog is kind of random, but I thought it was pretty cool.

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL 2007

On Thursday, February 15th, Sign-Ups for Birthright-Israel Summer 2007 Begin. This is it! This is your chance to visit The Homeland (Not Africa, Sorry Marcus Garvey) on a 100%-Free Trip! The program is open to any Jew—ages 18-26—who has never been to Israel before and spaces fill up fast so you should probably get going. As a 2-time participant in the program (Winter 2005 as a Traveler and Summer 2006 as a Staff-Member) I can say without any hesitancy-or-risk-of-hyperbolizing these trips have been the best times of my life. Birthright is probably the most important thing you can do to get in touch with your people and your land (unless you never had a Brit Milah or never read Exodus). For people who are connected to their Jewish Roots, going to Israel is even more important in order to tap into the essence of our people and the land that sustains us.

Here is the Link: http://www.birthrightisrael.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=HomePage

When it comes time to pick a trip, this one is led by my good friend Rabbi Chaim Burg: http://www.goisrael.org/future.htm

This trip is designed specifically for Medical Students and run by The American Physicians Fellowship for Israel: http://www.israeloutdoors.com/default.asp

I cannot stress this enough—Birthright is Amazing! If you are eligible, sign up (worst-case scenario you can back out later). If you’ve already been, spread the word because you know it’s the best program out there.

Also…I will be speaking at Congregation Beth Judah Young Israel of Worcester this Shabat (Feb. 10th) on Parshat Yitro, Mishnah Shabat, and “The Big Picture.” If you’re around, make sure to come by around 10AM. The Shul is located at 889 Pleasant Street, Worcester MA 01602.