Community Torah Portion Communal Obligations Encompass Us All munal institutions. Throughout our history, Jewish communities have taxed themselves in order to build places to serve God, not only through prayers but also through efforts. We have a long tradition of pooling our resources for the com- mon welfare, establishing houses of his week's parsha, Torah worship, soup kitchens, orphanages portion, contains many and other mutual necessities. We commandments and stories continue this tradition with congre- worthy of discussion. It gational building funds and the contains laws related to Sabbath Jewish Federation's Annual observance, including the well- Campaign. Although today these known V'shamru prayer (Exodus 31: assessments are voluntary 16-17), as well as laws contributions rather than regarding the pilgrimage fes- obligatory taxes, they all tivals (Pesach, Shavuot, began with this half-shekel Sukkot). • donation to the The parsha also contains Tabernacle. the dramatic story of the In the parsha, God golden calf, in which the instructs the Israelites to give people, concerned that no more and no less than Moses had deserted them the half shekel, regardless of and desperate for a physical one's financial status: "The manifestation of God, RABBI MARLA rich shall not pay more and implore Aaron to help them the poor shall not pay less J. FEL DMAN build an idol. Aaron tells than half a shekel when giv- Specia 1 to the the people to collect their ing the Lord's offering as Jewish News gold, perhaps as a stalling expiation for your persons." tactic, and he eventually (Exodus 30:15). uses it to create the golden calf. The commentary of the Baalei Upon witnessing their idol wor- Tosafot (12th-14th century ship, Moses breaks the tablets of the France/Germany) asks why the covenant. The Midrash suggests that wealthy were neither required nor Moses broke the tablets in order to permitted to contribute more than protect the Israelites; for if they did this meager amount. The response is not receive the laws, they could not that no person should be able to say be held accountable for breaking he has a greater share in the sacred them (Shemot Rabba; Avot deRabbi cause than one who has less money. Natan). After severe punishments According to Abravanel (15th centu- and pleading by Moses, the people ry Spain/Italy), this law was designed are forgiven and Moses carves a sec- to avoid embarrassment for the poor ond version of the tablets. or undue praise for the wealthy. There is much of interest in this This commandment is a great famous story, and many -commenta- equalizer. If all contribute the same tors have explored its significance. Yet amount to the building of our holy our focus on the Shabbat command- places, regardless of status, then all ments and the story of the golden calf are equal members of the communi- often causes us to overlook another noteworthy element of the parsha. At the very outset, the Israelites are com- manded to take a census and assess a half shekel for each person over the How can we use the idea of the age of 20. This tax is to be used for half-shekel contribution to the the building of the tabernacle in the Tabernacle to build and maintain wilderness. In later times, this tax our communal institutions today? would used for maintaining the ser- Are there ways we can contribute vice of the Temple. to our communal institutions Even today, we assess ourselves for beyond a minimal financial contri- the building of our modern taberna- bution? cles — our synagogues and our corn- Do we treat everyone equally in the religious life of our communi- Marla J. Feldman is assistant director for ty? If not, how can we help others domestic concerns of the Jewish feel fully a part of our community? Shabbat Ki Tissa: Exodus 30:11-34:35; I Kings 18:1-39. T Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield/Novi 3055 W. MAPLE RD DWYER (WEST OF HAGGERTY), COMMERCE TWP. 48390 *$279, 36-month, closed-end lease. 12,000 annual mileage, 36,000 miles total. $2,619 due at signing, includes $350 refundable security deposit. 15( per mile over 36,000 miles. Plus applicable tax and plates. ,KNIGHT & DEUTSCH MASTER OF ( o. (248) 352-7030 Creating images that touch the heart... NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR YOUR 2000-2001 EVENT VINTNER'S CELLAR David M. Deutsch Master of Photography BetterS Sorry! its Vun! Its easy! Its Unique! Make your own Wine in our store. Personalized Labels available • Gifts • Weddings • Celebrations Orchard Mall 538-7393 a fe • 2 Complete Show Rooms of Floor Safes, Wall Safes, Gun Safes & Drop Safes. TL 15 & TL 30 Safes in Stock WE CAN PROTECT YOU! 248-858-7100 r IT SAFES !MU 1991 ORCHARD LAKE RD SYLVAN LAKE, MI Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9:00-5:00 Wed 9:00-2:00 • Sat 2:00-5:00 Conversatio ns Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit.