SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
Remembering Who We Are
The portion describes the fancy, elaborate clothing of the priesthood when making sacrifices. It also describes the Ark of the Covenant that and put down a different was to be covered in gold. read a story about a ritual item: Kiddush cup, It seems strange that while Jewish immigrant from Shabbat candles, tallit, the Israelites are trying Europe who moved to the Chanukah candles. to get to the promised lower east side of New York The man came land they stop and make in the early years of 20th back to life. The items such elaborate costumes century. reconnected him and objects. To get a job, he changed to his past and his Doing so was not his traditional clothes and family. They reminded Rabbi Aaron ritual for ritual’s sake worked on Shabbat and Bergman him who he was: a and not for God, holidays. He needed to feed human entitled to because God does his family and felt he had no Parshat not need anything. dignity, not just a other choice. Tetzaveh: It was to remind a drone. He often slept at work Exodus 27:28248.289.0600 This is the main because of late hours at night 30:10; Ezekiel group of recently freed slaves that they were point in our Torah and early hours in morning. 43_10-27. www.tusharvakhariya.com capable of beauty and portion. When we He often seemed distant, (Shushan tushar@tvhomes.com Purim) splendor, that they could remember who we depressed and lost. remember who they are, we can face At night, 210 his Schildren Old Woodward | Suite 200 | Birmingham MI 48009 really were, and not Pharaoh’s the challenges of life more would go to6755 work where Telegraph Road | Bloomfield Hills MI 48301 vision of who they were. optimistically and joyfully. he was asleep at a desk
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The Kiddush cup, candlesticks and challah on Shabbat remind us that we are entitled to rest and a life at home that is joyous and happy. The mezuzah reminds us to remember our values when we leave for work and when we come back home. The tallit reminds us that we are robed in splendor, no matter how modest our lives. The purpose of ritual, of doing Jewish, is to remember that we are all capable of goodness and that we can create a world of beauty and splendor even when we feel like we are in the wilderness.
Aaron Bergman is a rabbi at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
348 CRANBROOK COURT BLOOMFIELD HILLS MI 48304 | 8,181 sqft | 5 bedrooms | 5.2 bathrooms
248.289.0660 www.tusharvakhariya.com 6755 Telegraph Road | Bloomfield Hills MI 48301 210 S Old Woodward | Suite 200 | Birmingham MI 48009
FEBRUARY 25 • 2021
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