30 March 7 • 2019
jn
Rabbi Asher
Lopatin
Creating a Better World
T
he last portion of Exodus is
perhaps the most dramatic and
significant of the Five Books
of Moses. Here are the two most
significant events in the story of the
Jewish people: being freed
from bondage in Egypt and
receiving the Torah at Mount
Sinai. So, we expect a big end-
ing. Instead, on the surface,
are many details about the
sanctuary and a few sentences
about the cloud at the end.
The sanctuary, the home
we are told to build for God
amongst our people, rep-
resents something incredible:
the ability for human beings
and former slaves to give back
to God and to take respon-
sibility for partnering with
God in this world to build
something special. At the end
of Exodus, God gives the Israelites, as
a nation, a chance to get involved and
become co-creators of a better world.
Parshat Pekudei does not only
mean “numbers” and “accountings.”
The root of the word, p-k-d, is about
noticing — about either being respon-
sible, effective and present or about
being irresponsible lax or absent.
Betzal’
el and Oholiav lead this effort
to have God and the world notice us
— through the design and building
of the sanctuary — but this portion
emphasizes that all were involved and
had an opportunity to be noticed and
make a difference.
The lesson for us is straightforward:
We cannot rely on God’
s generosity or
anyone else’
s; we must make sure that
in life we are counted, we make a dif-
ference. That can be a warm “hello” in
the morning, holding the door open
for others or going over to someone
standing alone at Kiddush and saying,
“Shabbat shalom! Are you new here?”
It can be bigger things like taking an
active role to fight racism, bigotry and
xenophobia. We have a world filled
with great possibilities, a world where
the exodus from Egypt and slavery
and the receiving of God’
s holy word
resonates loudly; but it is also a world
that needs our help and nurturing.
At the end of the parshah, the cloud
of God’
s glory was so happy
we took responsibility to build
a home for God that it com-
pletely fills that home (Exodus
40:34). What could be more
comfortable for God and for us
than to dwell together in God’
s
glorious cloud, snuggling as
God’
s chosen people and enjoy-
ing each other’
s holy company?
Yet, that will not work. We
weren’
t created and we didn’
t
receive the Torah for us to be
smothered by God’
s glory and
be passive. God realizes we
must be allowed to take respon-
sibility and to act for ourselves
and continue God’
s creative
work.
So “once the cloud lifted from the
sanctuary, then the Israelites were able
to move to their destinations. (Exodus
40:36).” God is still in our lives, help-
ing us, guiding us, providing structure
and truth, but God has to lift God’
s
self, lifting the cloud from smothering
the Jewish people, so we can move
to where we are supposed to go and
do what we are meant to do in this
world.
Exodus tells us God took us from
slavery in Egypt and came down to
Mount Sinai to talk to us because
God values us as individuals and God
knows we can make an impact in this
world even God cannot make. So,
God lifts off us a little so we can move
forward, inspired by all the people
and institutions around us, but know-
ing that, ultimately, we are account-
able for ourselves, and we bear the
responsibility of free people to make
our impact on this world. ■
Rabbi Asher Lopatin leads Kehillat Etz Chayim
of Detroit and the Detroit Center for Civil
Discourse.
Parshat
Pekudei:
Exodus
38:21-40:38;
I Kings
7:51-8:21.
spirit
torah portion
Looking to the Future
March 14-24, 2019 Fes
t
ival
Emanu-El
Temple
Thursday, March 14
Saturday, March 23
Sunday, March 24
Saturday, March 16
Thursday, March 21
March 16 is a special event for
Sponsors and Patrons of Temple
Emanu-El’s 2019 Spring Festival
(Patrons may bring a guest)