This week we plan to read from two sifrei Torah: the first, from Exodus (30:11-34:35), takes up at the point we left off last week with the construction of the Tabernacle. In the midst of this project to construct a place in this world where the Divine Presence can "dwell," the Torah breaks off to describe what has to be the lowest point spiritually in the history of our nation: the worship of the Golden Calf. This about-face is caused by a sense of doubt and panic which consumes the Israelites when Moses fails to return when expected - a result of a simple misunderstanding. As readers we can be struck by the readiness on the part of the Jewish people to abandon their trust in God. Haven't they just experienced a whole series of miraculous events: the plagues in Egypt including the slaying of the first born; the release from slavery; the splitting of the Red Sea; the Manna; hearing God's voice in the process of receiving the Ten Commandments? It's easy to criticize, but we are faced with the painful question: to what degree do we demonstrate a similar degree of doubt in the living presence of God? As a result of their behavior, Moses smashes the Tablets containing the words of the Ten Commandments and leads a battle within the Israelite encampment to root out the perpetrators. Ultimately there is reconciliation, to a degree and a number of powerful spiritual events which Moses will experience.
The second reading, from the book of Numbers (19:1-22), talks about the laws concerning the red heifer. What appears to be an arbitrary ritual is described to mitigate the spiritual contamination which a person contracts when in the presence of a corpse. This is of such a high level that it can be contracted simply by being under the same roof as the deceased. It also takes seven days to undergo the spiritual cleansing required and the sprinkling of the ashes of a Red Heifer on the third and seventh days. Our reading describes the complex process of preparing these ashes. There is nothing physically unclean about a corpse. As difficult as this law is to understand, it comes to teach us something about the nature of life. When you come right down to it, other than being animated, what is physically different between a living person and someone who has just died? And what exactly is it that causes us to be "animated?" How do we come to understand and appreciate the fact that in very essence, what ultimately gives us life has nothing to do with our physical existence?
The special Haftarah is from the prophet Ezekiel (36:16-38). The prophet starts by criticizing the Jewish people for "contaminating" the land of Israel through their misplaced values and behaviors. As a result, God has driven them out to dwell in foreign lands. Consequently, God's name has become desecrated in the fact that the foreign nations are saying "These are God's people, but they departed His land." (36:20) Ezekiel describes a process of purification which God will cause the Jewish people to undergo. This will include a return to the land of Israel and a time of abundance (36: 29, 30). From a place of desolation, Israel will become a virtual "Garden of Eden" (36:35). All this will lead the nations of the world to the ultimate acknowledgement of God's power and greatness. |
