Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Rabbi Art: This week in the Torah 3/8/08

Weekly Parashah – Exodus Pekuday Exodus 38:21 - 40:38
Some “Purim Torah”

Okay, yes Purim is a few weeks away, however, our Purim Ball is this week – Saturday night - March 8th!!! Have you made your reservation? You haven’t, well, what are you waiting for? Purim!!!  This weekend’s Purim Ball couldn’t come at a better time, so come in costume or not, either way join us for what I sure will be great and much needed evening for our temple community.

So here we are at the last portion of the Book of Exodus, Parashat Pekudey when the final obsessive details and description of the Mishkan, Wilderness Sanctuary, are offered as well as the lengthy list of the fancy, shmancy clothes worn by the priests. And great ceremonies were held to dedicate this Mishkan and instructions about how the priest were to conduct services. And, finally a Cloud of God’s Glory covered the Mishkan. 

Of course, on a serious note, it is a unique moment in Jewish history that after the Golden Calf the people of Israel is forgiven by God and now has a holy place for them to experience God’s Divine Presence. 

Now to some more “Purim Torah!” Yes, there is such a thing!  Let me explain.  As you know, Purim is a day in which everything is turned inside out and upside-down. Right is left and left is right and so on. A day that the Talmud reminds us we shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between, “blessed be Mordecai” and “cursed be Haman.”

Purim is ultimately a day about chance or luck. Haman (boo) picks a random date to destroy the Jews in 127 provinces. Of course, his plans are foiled and he is hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai. This is really more bad luck considering he had to parade Mordecai through the streets of Shushan honoring him since, he, Mordecai, not Haman (boo) saved the King’s life.

This may seem all well and good, however, the essence of Judaism is antithetical to chance or luck! No consulting the local astrologist. Judaism rests upon taking (or not taking) action, ethical monotheism, not luck or chance. So in truth, Purim, was our ancestors way of making sport with the great Persian society in which they lived; a society based upon silly superstitions, blind chance and drunken ignorance. Now that you’ve imbued this Purim Torah don’t miss out on some more this coming Saturday night!

Be happy its Adar,

Rabbi Art Donsky