From Rabbi Mordecai Miller
May 7, 2010 |
23 Iyar 5770 |
Have you ever contemplated what it really means to "own" something? Obviously it means more than just having that object on your property; and just what does it mean to say "your" property?!
· Does it have much more to do with the degree of "control" we exercise over that object?
· Does it mean bringing that object into existence - in other words, "making" or "creating" it? In this case, to what extent do we "create" anything?
· Or does "ownership" have to do with the "responsibilities" we have in connection with the object we own?
The Torah portion of b'Har explores the degree to which we "own" real-estate and many of the implications of such "ownership." It includes ideas on how one treats the disadvantaged. Given the drive society puts into us to multiply our possessions, this portion has much food for thought about the relationship between our possession and ourselves. So what do we really "give up" when we sacrifice something we own?
Another very human question is: What difference does it really make to our lives whether we pay attention to the commandments written in the Torah or not? b'Chukotai tries to grab our attention in stating, as clearly as possible, that our choice to follow the mitzvoth or not really does have huge consequences.
We are told to what degree we will experience Divine blessing if choose to follow and to what degree, stage by stage, we will experience dire consequences if our choice goes the other way. The fact that this material is part of our Torah suggests to me that issue of the previous paragraph was as relevant in ancient times as it is in our own day. Hmm!
Concluding the book of Leviticus we come back to issue of sacrifice, not in the sense of taking the life of an animal or donating food as an act of worship; but how we might "donate" ourselves or any of our possessions. Is there a situation where a person might have to actually give up their life? Can we change our minds once we have committed certain "gifts?" Finally, we are told to look at what we acquire through the process of natural growth (such as the fruit of trees or the birth of sheep and cattle) actually belongs to God. All God asks of us in return is one tenth of our profit. This portion would go to support the Levites who weren't given a tribal allotment in the same way as everyone else.
Speaking of "giving back," I had a delightful conversation this week with Beverly Fogelman. (The Blue color indicates that you can click on that link and start an email to Bev).
Bev serves as chairperson of our Social Action Committee. I would love to appeal to you to consider a way of expressing your thanks to God for all your blessings by joining our Social Action committee. The committee provides us with a number of projects aimed at bringing support and joy into the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.
You can call the synagogue (314) 725-6230 and leave a message with Jeanne or Meir.
Bev will be happy to get back to
you to discuss how you might like to get involved.
May your Shabbat be filled with the sense of joy
in being able to sense just how wonderful this Divinely created world really is.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mordecai Miller