Curious "factoid": There are more Torah readings from this week's portion of the Torah during the year than any other. "Why?" Because it contains a description of the various mandatory offerings brought in the Temple daily, weekly (Shabbat), Rosh Chodesh (new moon day) and every Festival. So every Rosh Chodesh (new moon day) and every Festival, when we perform the public Torah reading, we read the appropriate passages in this par'shah. We probably don't read it daily or every week because it would be considered a "burden on the congregation" (תירחא דציבורא tir-cha d'tzi-bu-ra), but we certainly read it all the other times.
What's the reason? The opportunity to recite the words of the Torah to the community is considered a very sacred act. In a sense we are re-enacting the moment when the Torah was given to the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai. In other words it's an opportunity for a moment of intimacy with the Creator of the Universe. On a higher level, the rituals that took place in the Temple were an opportunity for greater moments of intimacy. Even though the Temple and the services that took place within its walls came to a shocking halt almost two thousand years ago, the sages who lived around the same time instituted our daily services to keep alive as much of their spiritual value they could.
If you couldn't actually "do" the Temple service, at least you could read about "doing" the Temple service! In this way you could reconstruct in your mind and - in the act of publicworship - in your heart the sacred rituals that were performed there. So...
Reading the passage about "the specific items God commands the Jewish People to bring for the Rosh Chodesh Sacrifice" is spiritually congruent to actually bringing the Rosh Chodesh Offering - even in the 21st Century!
Pretty "cool!" - not so?
This past Tuesday, we observed the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz. This begins a period of Three Weeks which ends with the Fast of Tisha b'Av, Tuesday, July 20th. This is a time when, traditionally, we observe certain mourning customs. For example, we wouldn't perform weddings during this period and, in general, we would try to lessen those moments of celebration which were a matter of choice. Celebrating a bris - circumcision - is an a example of a celebration - simcha - which isn't optional. We would definitely have a party following! On the other hand, I remember in my former congregation in Canton OH, there was a gentleman who informed me that he held the custom of not "singing" Aleynu during weekday services at this time of the year.
I see this as a time for some quiet - and sober - reflection. We all know that this world of ours contains many points of personal - and national - tragedy. To what degree in our values, our conversations and our acts do we contribute to this tragedy? We can do this both actively, for example through lashon hara - bad-mouthing - or taking our anger out on others; or passively, standing back when we are in a position to help - financially or otherwise. On the other hand, what can we do, actively and passively, to "heal" this world?
It seems to me that only through a genuine desire to understand this world from a spiritual perspective will we ever begin to experience shalom. It starts with a serious attempt to understand ourselves, to be able to see our own faults, our selfishness or stubbornness, our senses of entitlement and callousness. This reflects an old proverb I heard many years ago: "If everyone cleaned his own doorstep, all the streets would be clean."
Next it takes a desire to contribute in a positive way, to utilize one's own talents and resources, to exhibit patience, lend a sympathetic ear, to make "yes" the default attitude instead of "no", to give people the benefit of the doubt. Above all, to learn how to be respectful in the face of disagreement and even conflict.
Of course, the last two paragraphs are mere generalities. It takes years of study and sometimes painful experience to figure out the details.
But, whether we are talking about the sacrifices it takes to become a mensch, or the sacrifices that we bring to mind when we quote from our parsha of Pinchas, their ultimate destination is to help us discover holiness, the nearness of God!
May this Shabbat bring you even closer to discovering that wonderful experience.