February 26, 2010
Tetzaveh Ex. 27:20-30-10
Dear Friends:
What do these great pairs have in common: Rogers and Hammerstein, Gershwin and Gershwin, Stameshkin and Levine? Great Jews producing great entertainment! Once again, thanks to the script of Stameshkin, the musicianship of Levine, the supreme patience of both, some really talented performers, and OK, face it, some really not very talented performers too, we will present our annual Purimshpiel on Sunday. The day includes a family friendly abbreviated Megillah reading at 11:15, and the shpiel at 1:00. Hopefully many of you have ordered lunch in between. Creative graggers (noise makers) for the reading are encouraged, and costumes are absolutely expected. Bring your friends!
But now to the serious. With the new format of Newsweek (not a big hit in my mind) we have the opportunity to read the work of columnist Julia Baird. In a recent column, she made reference to Mahatma Gandhi and his understanding of the seven social sins of humans: commerce without morality, politics without principle, wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, education without character, science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. I was intrigued by the list, and realized how relevant these are in the context of our congregation. I would like to propose that there are meaningful Jewish teachings to be applied to each of these categories, and that our social justice agenda can well be defined by this list without entering into party politics. But I’ll deal with social justice in the future. For now, let’s focus on the last of the seven, worship without sacrifice.
It is no great revelation to say that we live in a world that expects immediate gratification, and wants quick fixes. There are many religious groups, including some within the Jewish world, that promote just this kind of thinking. The problem with quick fixes and immediate gratification is that the good feeling may be intense, but it is not often enduring.
Of course, Gandhi’s choice of the word “sacrifice” is interesting. Does one “sacrifice” something by spending time with the congregation in prayer, visiting with a family sitting Shiva, cooking a meal for someone recently out of the hospital, driving an elderly congregant to services, or attending an adult education class? The traditional Jewish answer would be that there is no sacrifice there at all. My dear friend and colleague, Sarah Messinger, used to remind our campers almost 30 years ago that “you don’t get points for things you’re supposed to do.” On the other hand, in at least one statement, our ancient text, Pirkei Avot, says that just the opposite is true. “The reward for doing a mitzvah is [the opportunity to perform] another mitzvah.” Rather than sacrifice, we tend to understand worship as work. The word Avodah that was used for worship in the ancient world is now used for work. We don’t just receive, we work for what we get. No quick fixes. Elsewhere Pirkei Avot says, “According to the labor is the reward.” You only get what you put in.
Let’s work and worship together—this Shabbat and every Shabbat. Together we’ll reap the rewards.
Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.
Sincerely,
Jack P. Paskoff,
Rabbi