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 
 
 


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Saturday, March 16 
 
 


Thursday, March 21 
 



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