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The Legacy Of Traditions

T

Parshat Terumah:
Exodus 25:1-27:19;
1 Kings 5:26-6:13.

here is so much fascinating
narrative and poetic literature
that comprises the Torah.
However, this week’s portion is really
neither.
It is, rather, a long and fairly
detailed description of how to build
the mishkan, or tabernacle,
sure. Many scholars propose
that the Israelites will be
they were more likely some
using to worship God in the
kind of sphinx-like creatures
wilderness. Historians are
so popular throughout
divided on whether it existed
the region. In any case, it
at all, but there’s little doubt
seems strange that a people
that the Temple in Jerusalem
who sinned with a golden
held many similarities to the
calf would be OK with any
Torah’s descriptions of the
Rabbi Jeffrey
winged idols.
mishkan.
Biblical scholars are
When I was a Hillel rabbi, Falick
unsurprised. Like sphinxes,
I led much more traditional
calf imagery was common
services than I do at the
throughout the region,
Birmingham Temple. One
sometimes representing the
year after Yom Kippur ser-
power of gods. They suggest that
vices, a student expressed sincere
whatever inspired the Golden Calf
shock that ancient Jews could have
narrative was originally a battle of
stomached the bloody Temple sac-
competing iconography: calves ver-
rifices that we had just recounted. I
told her, “Everyone had temples and sus sphinxes!
Terumah also presents us with
everyone made sacrifices. To others
the seven-branched menorah, a
in the ancient world, that was actu-
temple item still in use in the decor
ally one of the most normal things
of many synagogues today. Have
Jews did!”
you ever noticed how it resembles
The writer of Ecclesiastes noted
that “there is nothing new under the a sculptured tree? The description
in Terumah even describes its cups
sun.” This certainly applies to much
as “almond-blossoms” and its pri-
of Jewish tradition. Archaeological
mary decoration as “petals” (details
discoveries reveal that Israelites
confirmed by an ancient engrav-
borrowed and adapted many of the
ing). Some scholars have noted
practices of their neighbors. The
similarities to the sculpted tree that
description of the mishkan is proof
represented the goddess Asherah,
of that.
abhorred by biblical writers. Did
In the northwest corner of mod-
Israelites convert those representa-
ern Syria, for example, an Iron Age
tive trees into the menorah?
Syro-Hittite temple (c. 1300 B.C.E.)
Like every people and nation,
was uncovered in Ain Dara that
greatly resembles descriptions of the ancient Israel was well integrated
one in Jerusalem. Its layout is almost into the world around it, borrow-
an exact duplicate. Its central shrine, ing and adapting and re-creating
as it built its own unique culture.
halls, porticos and even its columns
Understanding this reminds us that
are in the exact same position.
even as we are heirs to Jewish tra-
Terumah also details some of
ditions, we share with every other
the contents of the mishkan. Two
human a broader, world encompass-
cherubim, for example, are to be
ing legacy.•
erected on either end of the holy
ark. If you’ve seen Raiders of the
Jeffrey L. Falick is a secular Humanistic rabbi
Lost Ark, then you’ve seen the most
at the Birmingham Temple Congregation for
familiar representation of these
Humanistic Judaism in Farmington Hills.
winged beings, but no one is really

Saturday

M a rc h

11

Evening Festivities

hosted by Congregation B’nai Moshe

6:15 pm - Minchah & Seudah Shelishit

7:45 pm - Ma’ariv & Megillah Reading
followed by a dessert reception
with entertainment
by Lazer Lloyd, Israel’s
“King of Blues”

ASTA
P
M
I
PUR K UP
E
SH A

Help Yad Ezra! Bring unopened
boxes of pasta to use as a grogger!

Sunday

M a rc h

12

Megillah Reading
& Free Carnival

hosted by Adat Shalom Synagogue

8:30 am - Minyan & Megillah Reading
followed by Breakfast

11:00 am - Megillah Mania with Lazer Lloyd
an all-ages Megillah experience

Noon - Carnival with a Star Trax Dance Party
lunch available for purchase

Come meet Paws,
the Mascot of the
Detroit Tigers!

Purim Partners:

Questions? Contact one of
the partnering congregations

jn

March 2 • 2017

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