Dear TBZ Community,
My social media feed has been filled with screenshots of life on Zoom, reminding me that this past week marks three years since we closed TBZ’s building for in-person gatherings. It was just a few days after Purim. We committed ourselves to remaining open – spiritually and virtually – faster than I ever imagined we could. We were running a shul (synagogue) and continuing our work of building an intentional and meaningful community without sharing physical space. Services and programs were moved to virtual platforms; we added new opportunities to connect daily, like Boker Tov TBZ; phone calls were made to every TBZ member; and we tapped into our creativity to engage each other and not feel alone in those early moments of despair and unknown.
When I think of that time, especially the first six months when those of us with children at home had no childcare nor support, where most of us were hunkered down in our houses or, in my case, in my TBZ office and the sanctuary alone (with little Ariel), I think of the blessings of the moment. Yes, it was super hard, it felt almost impossible at moments, not knowing how we keep going. (Remember? I kept sharing my mantra, the Keep Going Song? It remains my mantra even now…) But the blessing of that time was being part of our community and encountering so much generosity in our midst.
This week, as we read the ending of the book of Exodus, parshiot Vayakhel-Pekude, we again read about the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). As people are invited and encouraged to bring their gifts to build the tabernacle, something happens, something that we could say is almost miraculous. People bring more than is needed! (This is the dream of every fundraiser!) The Torah says:
וַיָּבֹאוּ כּל־הַחֲכָמִים הָעֹשִׂים אֵת כּל־מְלֶאכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ אִישׁ־אִישׁ מִמְּלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר־הֵמָּה עֹשִׂים
all the artisans who were engaged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, from the task upon which each one was engaged,
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר מַרְבִּים הָעָם לְהָבִיא מִדֵּי הָעֲבֹדָה לַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהֹוָה לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָהּ
and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that Adonai has commanded to be done.”
Rabbi Art Green, in his commentary to the Sefat Emet, Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger, explains:
Overflowing generosity was what was needed for the making of the mishkan, an act of human giving that did not put limits on itself. This act is comparable only to God’s first gift of overflowing generosity in the creation of heaven and earth. Every mishkan, or dwelling-place for God, that we make in our lives requires such generosity of spirit (The Language of Truth, The Torah Commentary of the Sefat Emet, Rabbi Arthur Green, page 136).
Our capacity to be there for each other as a community during that difficult time was possible because we knew, each in our own way, that we needed to continue to build our own mishkan, an indwelling place for God. Our mishkan helped guide us during the difficult times, so we could feel less alone, so we could keep going together no matter how hard it was. The generosity of spirit allowed us to do this.
As we mark three years of this time, I reflect on what we have learned, how we grew to understand the importance of opening our hearts to each other, the importance of being in community and reaching to each other in times of needs and rejoicing in times of joy, and what lessons we have each taken from this time.
I know that I have never felt the importance of community more than I do now. I often say, when someone asks what I do for a living, that I am trying to build a meaningful, intentional, and relevant community. One that, like the mishkan, is built from the generosity of all its people, each and every one of us.
This Shabbat is also Shabbat HaChodesh, the sabbath before the beginning of the month of Nissan, the month that includes Passover. As we start to prepare to celebrate liberation and redemption, I hope we can keep in mind the importance of generosity of mind, heart, and spirit, and how it can lead to redemption.
May this Shabbat bring renewal and blessings to all of you and your loved ones.
May we find strength, courage, and patience, and open our hearts with generosity.
May all those who are ill find healing. And may we have a joyful, sweet, and peaceful Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rav Claudia