Torah Tidbit

Parashah Tetzaveh (shall command), Exodus  27:20 – 30:10 

God describes to Moses the priests’ uniforms they are to wear while on duty and how the priests are to be ordained into their tabernacle duties.

“…you shall take them from their hands and cause it to go up in smoke on the Altar, on the burnt-offering, as a satisfying aroma before Hashem; it is a fire/burnt-offering to Hashem.” – Exodus 29:25

Walking the Walk

The tabernacle, its contents and the priestly activities provide a spiritual focal point for both the nation of Israel and its individual members.  The nation, inspired and guided by the tabernacle activities, improves its ways of working in the world, which will in turn encourage the nation to seek more inspiration and guidance from these activities.  

Although sacrifices get most of the attention for tabernacle activities, they are empty and dark if the participants have not properly prepared themselves first in prayer.  As the oft quoted statement from Isaiah, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples”.  Sacrifices are for inspiring one to renew his efforts in living a life more in accord with God’s ways.  That requires prayer at all stages – before recommitting, during the recommitment ceremony, and much more prayer after returning back home to the “hum-drum” of normal life routines.  In fact, this recommitment can be achieved at any time, by any human, without the need for sacrifices.  Thus David, when repenting of his sin with Bathsheba, said:

“O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.  For You do not desire a sacrifice, else I would give it; a burnt offering You do not want.  The sacrifices Gd desires are a broken spirit; a heart broken and humbled, O God, You will not despise.” – Psalm 51:18-19

Prayer is not one of the seven Noahide laws.  However, we know full well it makes sense to do and brings us positive benefits in this world.  And this is exactly what a great majority of the Jewish sages say as well.  So we too can apply this principle to any activity, whether Jewish or otherwise, to help determine if it brings spiritual benefits to us and those around us:

1.  Does it makes sense?  Does it have a logical reason behind it?

2.  Does it benefit the person performing it and/or the society around them?

From Rotary International

For Rotary, The Four-Way Test is the cornerstone of all action. It has been for years, and it will be in the future. Of the things we think, say or do:

            • Is it the TRUTH?

            • Is it FAIR to all concerned?

            • Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

            • Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Have a great week!