Intention, (Kavanah)

Torah Commentary by Laura Weakley

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This week’s Torah Portion

Pekudei

Exodus 38:21- 40:38

I dedicate this week’s Torah Commentary to my enlightened husband whose birthday was yesterday! Kevin is a shining example of one who lives his life in service of Adonai by sharing his skills, talents, and other gifts for the sake of mankind and Adonai. Kevin, you are a blessing! May this year bring you all the blessings you so richly deserve!

May Adonai bless you and keep you, may Adonai’s countenance shine upon you, and may all of your days be blessed with peace!

Before the Tabernacle was put together, Moses inventoried and inspected all of the individual parts. Most of us individually, and for work purposes, are familiar with conducting inventories, although perhaps there are times each part is not inspected for its own merit. The Jewish High Holidays are a time when we take inventory of ourselves regarding how we have treated others, along with the deeds we have done. The fact that Moses does this as we end the book of Exodus doesn’t seem so odd. It even seems like a practical thing to do.
While it is practical on a secular level, it is written in the Torah to remind us every single element of what we produce or create in service to Adonai should be as perfect as it can be. Our intention is clearly demonstrated by the quality of our work. In this week’s parashah, we find that the Israelites, as a whole and individually, worked at their trades, and contributed the raw materials with the very best of themselves, the best of their souls. Everything was given and created with love and the best of intentions, as all was brought and made in order to be used to serve Adonai.
Once the inventory was taken, Moses blessed those who participated. The purpose of the inventory was to make certain each item was worthy of service to Adonai. Note here how it was not due to a lack of trust in any way concerning possible shortages. There was no theft of any item concerning the Tabernacle recorded anywhere in the Torah. The Israelites each had the purest of hearts when it came to serving Adonai. The Tabernacle was filled with beautiful treasures of the Tablets inscribed by Adonai, gold and silver, and let us not forget the precious gems! The only looting of these items in any form of recorded history we have is the looting done by non-Jewish outsiders who took items because they were valuable monetarily, and because the intentions of the looters were purely selfish and malicious. After the Jewish people were allowed to rebuild the second Temple in Jerusalem, some of these items were returned by foreign kings and nobles who had possession of them.
I would like to point out too, as I step on my soapbox, each and every item of the Tabernacle, down to the finest detail, was built to last. Need I say more about the quality of items available for purchase today? I think not!
We even find details in this passage omitted from other passages as to why mention was made of such details like the hems of the tunics worn by the priests. In this parashah, we are told the purpose of the hems, for example, was to keep the tunic from tears which could occur when a thread is snagged. I find it interesting we are given reasons why certain things were to be done in certain ways. Especially in regard to the hems, as this is common practice today because it is common sense. Yet Adonai felt it was important to include in the Torah which, more often then not, excludes many details. We learn from this the importance of intertwining the secular with the holy. The secular and the holy can and should be inextricable.
Each person willingly and joyfully worked to build, mold, create and weave items not for themselves alone, but for the service of Adonai. Each person was proud of their work, not proud as in full of themselves, but proud to contribute their items, as their intentions were pure, and they wanted their own contribution to be the best they could offer.
Where am I going with all of this? Glad you asked! It was only after each contribution given was from the heart, as each individual worked with the best of their own abilities, with the purest of intentions, and then after all of these items were sanctified, assembled, and the priests sanctified, that Adonai visually gave approval by placing a cloud upon the Tabernacle, which shone with the glory of Adonai.
We learn here when we individuals come together as a group for a higher purpose, when we act with good intentions, and give the best of ourselves - of our bodies, minds, and souls - when we participate in the work ourselves (The Torah tells us everything was made by the Israelites and not “contracted out” to the mixed multitudes), thereby demonstrating the best of intentions and efforts, and when we do this with a mind and heart towards serving Adonai, then we not only produce items of intrinsically valuable worth, but also by our exertion of effort and intention we connect our world with Adonai, and the blessing of Adonai.
We are here on earth to learn how to work together. We are both ego, and soul or spirit. The ego wants to establish individuation, the soul or spirit knows everything is one, and everything is a part of G-d. While on earth, we must come to realize Adonai is all which is real, and all which truly matters. This means we will have earthly struggles and challenges due to our egos. We may not like this, but it is the case! It is only when we gain sight of the bigger picture outside of ourselves, and with this knowledge, trust in G-d that we can and will unite Heaven and Earth, the secular and the holy, in order to repair this world we know and make it worthy of Adonai’s presence.
Am I trying to tell you the best of intentions and efforts, the love, respect, and awe of Adonai will mean no more times of despair or challenges?! No, we all know better. While we are here on earth, we will have challenges to deal with, due to the struggle between the ego and the soul. Acting out of selfish needs and desires is what creates strife. If we have leadership skills, wealth, power, or talent, we need to realize these are gifts given to us by Adonai, and the best way we can demonstrate thankfulness is to share these gifts for the benefit of mankind.
Moses is known to the Jewish people as our greatest teacher and the humblest man for the same reason. He utilized all the blessings given to him by Adonai for the benefit of all, and to never materially gain from them just for himself. Moses led by example - he embodied the teaching of the Torah. Remember, the Torah tells us this week that before the Tabernacle was assembled, and after all the items were ready, Moses blessed the people on his own. It is one of the few actions recorded in the Torah Moses did which wasn’t commanded by Adonai. He thought for himself.
Moses knew all of the beautiful items assembled for Adonai were only meaningful due to the efforts and intentions of the people. Adonai doesn’t need anything in this physical world except for the pure intentions and actions of the humans G-d created. Adonai wants us to join our efforts and abilities for the benefit of all.
There is a beautiful, subtle, and important verification of all which I have written, right in this week’s parashah itself. In Exodus 38:25-26, we are told: “The silver of the census of the community was a hundred talents, one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, in the sacred shekel; a beka for every head, a half-shekel in the sacred shekel for everyone who passed through the census takers, from twenty years of age and up, for the six hundred three thousand, five hundred fifty.” The census here refers to one taken in the second year of exile, and after those who instigated the golden calf episode were killed. If you recall, there were six hundred thousand Israelite souls (adults) who left Egypt, and stood at the base of the mountain and told Adonai “we will do, and we will hear”. Those six hundred thousand Israelite souls who left Egypt were joined by a mixed multitude of others who wanted to worship Adonai, the One G-d. Therefore, we are told by indication and through simple math that the Israelites were not alone in their unity of hearts, minds, and souls to work collectively for a higher purpose. I pray we take this example and follow it together, rather than working against each other. I further pray we, each and every one of us, realize the only worthwhile pursuit is the pursuit of love, awe, respect, etc., for each other, for the greater good, for Adonai.
Shabbat Shalom, I’d love to know what you think!
We Just finished another book of the Torah, so we say:”Chazak! Chazak! Venischazeik!” or in English, “Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!”

Intention, (Kavanah)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

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copyright© Laura Weakley March 04, 2011

Contributing Editor: Kevin A. Weakley