Terumah – Ex. 25:1-27:19 (Feb. 28/29)

February 27, 2020

As the Torah Turns

Rabbi Lader’s Weekly D’var Torah

Terumah – Ex. 25:1-27:19 (Feb. 28/29)

This week, our Torah turns to Terumah – Ex. 25:1-27:19. Artist, Caroline Rothstein, comments: “In Parshat Terumah, we find our crew of Israelites rocking out in the desert after liberating themselves from slavery in Egypt. Here they are — a disparate band of former slaves — beginning to reckon with their identities, their purposes, their selfhoods, their truths. Both individually and collectively. Who are they? What are they doing? How shall they live? And then God assigns them an art project. God says, in Exodus 25:8: ‘They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, and I shall dwell amidst them.’ That’s it. That’s the Tweet. The tabernacle is God’s art project for the Israelites to find a common purpose and cause by collaborating, by co-creating, and by taking their scattered voices and molding some kind of harmony amidst the cacophony of wandering in the desert.” That’s the power of communal art. That’s the power of working together, focusing on a common goal; each person asked to bring their own gifts and special skills to the task. Next time you are at temple, please walk down the hallway by the first-floor classrooms and enjoy the lovely wall hanging made by all the participants in last year’s congregational retreat; each one – from babies to bubbes – brought their own gifts to the process. Walk into Ratner Hall and enjoy the amazing art piece that celebrates the opening words of Torah, made by participants during our Winter U this past January. But… these art pieces did not just happen! There were very specific instructions and steps to follow, as were God’s instructions for the Mishkan/Sanctuary. Yet… even with specific instructions, there is leeway for each person’s creativity… leeway for each person’s vision of what their piece of the project can look like. There is indeed a “harmony” amidst the various voices that will bring the project to completion. That is the power of art. And that is the power of sacred community. Of course, the Children of Israel will come up with their own art project, asking Moses’ brother Aaron to help them… But that’s another story…