By: Julie Lieber
Chief Jewish Life & Engagement Officer
I recently attended a briefing on the War with Iran by a high-ranking member of the Israeli military. When the Q&A portion of the webinar began, the moderator shared his surprise that the most common question from participants regarding the increasingly tense wartime situation was not about the war itself, but was “please tell us, how soon will we be able to come to Israel?” This question can be heard from Israelis stranded abroad who want to return to support their country and from Jews all around the world who want to show up for their people, even in times of utmost distress.
This theme is echoed in this week’s Torah portions, VaYakhel-Pikudei, where we see the Israelites clamoring to contribute, well beyond what is expected of them. They have already given the mandatory half shekel, which we read about in last week’s Torah portion. This week, we read about the Israelites continuing to give more and more, according to their talents. Ultimately, the artisans complain to Moses that, “[T]he people are bringing more than is needed!” and the people are asked to stop giving.
This instinctual impulse, to contribute and offer help, even when such contributions and sacrifices are not rational or needed, comes from a deeper sense that when there is a need within our community and people, we rush towards it, not away from it, offering everything we have. As Dr. Mijal Biton explained after October 7th, all of the feelings that we are having from a distance: “That pain you are feeling is Peoplehood.” This is what it means to be a family, this is what it means to be a People.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l, describes the power of this impulse as the key to forging the collective identity of the ancient Israelites. Through their building this tabernacle, a people who had been broken by slavery for hundreds of years was not only building a holy structure but were rebuilding themselves. In Sacks’ words, “It is not what happens to us, but what we do, that gives us identity and responsibility. The Israelites were indeed transformed – not by a miracle, but by their own efforts.” The same can be said of our people today, as we push through these difficult years and rush to help and support in whatever way we can. When we show up for our community and build together we are ourselves transformed through the process – or in the words of the early Zionists who built the state of Israel, they came to the land “livnot u’lehibanot, to build and to be built.”
Shabbat Shalom.
Please email Julie Lieber at jlieber@jewishcolorado.org with questions or comments.