Parshat Pekudei, (Exodus 40:17-40:27)-2/28/14

Perhaps this is about doing things the right way. We are pass the stage of creation and now the baby has been born.We are at the stage of getting started with this new life. Again this isn't an opportunity to be creative. Only god is creative. We simple follow the directions. Which may be defined as what is needed in the situation. 

Rabbi Gordon (Chabad.org) said that a commentator interpreted “...that the Mishkan was set up” to mean that G_d sent down angels to set it up because it was too much for the people. This appears to be a contradiction with the next line, “Moses set up the Mishkan,” but what do I know? In any case, I drew the angels at work.

Parshat Pekudei, (Exodus 40:1-40:16)-2/27/14

We have to create a dwelling place for God. The menorah gives us light from the pure olive oil. The table gives us a source for making a living. The altar a place to be with G_d. We are a walking Mishnah. We create in heart and essence in every moment. (paraphrased from Rabbi Gordon at Chabat.org). The bread, stacked on the shelves, would miraciously stay fresh for a week. Moses stuck to the program, and a dwelling place was created. This is the glue that would hold together a people.

Parshat Pekudei, (Exodus 39:33-39:43)-2/26/14

Supposedly only one person should lift up the Mishkan. But no one could do it, so they took it to Moses, the only one who had done no work on it. It was so heavy that Moses felt that he couldn't lift it up, so he asked G_d how was he supposed to lift it up? G_d says, you try and I will help. So Moses did that, and mysteriously the deed was done. It was the blessing of G_d that made the task possible.

The most miraculous job I've had is raising kids. Though we tried and tried, something appeared to do the important work for us ... completely unexplainable. It is with the blessing, along with tireless work, that things get done.

Parshat Pekudei, (Exodus 39:22-39:32)-2/25/2014

After six weeks all the work was completed. Again, we have the number six, as in six days. Now it is time to rest. Work hard, then rest hard. There is something disappointing about finishing a job. The enthusiasm and adrenaline rush to finish are gone.

But one thing leads to another. Though the building of the tabernacle was the building of a relationship with G_d, it was really only a place for a relationship to begin. It is a birth. Creation has occurred once again.

Parshat Pekudei, (Exodus 39:2-39:21)-2/24/2014

Moses stuck to the program. “... as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Moses could have been creative and done his own thing, but instead he just followed the rules.

This goes back to an idea I've had all my art life, that we don't need or even shouldn't be creative, but rather follow what we are told to do (by our hearts). This is the opposite of just following convention. It is instead following one's instinct. As we do as we are told (by our hearts), we (because we are unique in time and place and body) do unique work, in spite of our best efforts to walk the line.

Giacometti claimed he didn't mean to make his emaciated figures. He said they just came out that way.

Parshat Pekudei, (Exodus 38:21-39:1)-2/23/2014

The power of the community. Every person is critical to the world. We are all an entire world. We count the numbers at Moses' command for the building of the Mishkan because everyone is important.

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 38:1-38:20)-2/22/2014

The Israel women would use mirrors to pretty themselves so they could seduce men. Moses wouldn't let the mirrors into the tent, but they had washstands that would test the women and prove their innocence (or otherwise). This was, once again, a return to the Garden of Eden. Seduction (temptation) had no place in a holy space.

I thought more about the sabbath ... for me. I worked for 60 years and now it is the sabbath. I got it wrong ... but usually do mix things up a little. But had fun all the time really, except for a short time when I had a real job.

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 37:17-37:29)-2/21/2014

We learn to make the menorah and the incense altar. I liked how the goblets at the end of the menorah are upside down so that one can turn the menorah over and spread blessings to the world.

If a person takes so much care in the making of an object, how they must care for taking loving others.

I like too, reading about the menorah, that one is not to use a lit candle (of the six here or eight for Hanukah) for lighting fires, which is why the seventh/ninth candle is there. Here I believe that oil rather than candles were used here.

It is interesting how the senses are engaged here: sight and smell. This would help engage the whole person in the rituals.

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 36-20:37-16)-2/20/2014

Rabbi Baker was clarifying why Spinoza got excommunicated. He said it was because of what he did, not because of what he believed. That's encouraging, since I don't believe anything sometimes. And sometimes I believe everything. I like the detail in this parshah. Again it is a meditation. Michael talked tonight about the contrast between the work of building the tent, and the sabbath. Taking a day off still seems foreign to me, perhaps like a deep sleep. But then when I asked what one would do on their day off, he said, “think about spiritual matters.” But that is mainly what I have thought about all my life except when I was dean. Maybe what I need is a day “on” rather than a day “off.” The thought just occurred to me that the work of a craftsman is like the practice of prayer. To do it right, one must be focused on the job at hand, and they much respect their materials and their tools as if they are holy. "Walk as if your feet are kissing the Earth," as Thich Nhat Hahn said.

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 36-8:36-19)-2/19/2014

There 50 gates of wisdom and the 50 levels of impurity. Lots of 50s in the tent, which represents the Creation. There were four sets of curtains, each covering the next.

1. Made of earth and minerals.
2. Made from the world of vegetation—that which grows.
3. Made from the animal realm
4. Made from human realm.

It seems the sequencing goes in both directions. What seemed at first to be so arbitrary is actually a recreation of Genesis.

I'm curious about the length of one curtain being 28 cubits. I'd like to find more explanation about the symbolism for each of the numbers. Many of the other numbers are 5 or 50.

Again, this work is about intention. Not just covering the tent, but doing it with the utmost intention. Not just paying attention, but worshipping with every detail and every moment, with all of one's heart and soul.

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 35-30:36-7)-2/18/2014

Enough is enough. The people brought more than was needed. This was a great expression of their eagerness to please G_d. Or is “please” the word I should use? Would “connect to” be more accurate?

So they were sent back. The drawing is supposed to be about people coming and going. See the blind man? Somewhere else in the Hebrew Bible there is a story about people giving too much for their own detriment. You shouldn't hurt yourself by giving. But this is different. They were overwhelming the craftsmen who now had all the materials they needed. I guess it is just the grand expression of enthusiasm.

In the Zen world, we stop soji (temple cleaning) when the time is over. I interpret this parshah that because people were turned away, there was now100% buy-in.

Right after 911, so many people gave blood they dumped it down the sink. They didn't want to turn people away ... but then later, when they really needed blood, people didn't come back

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 35-21:35-29)-2/17/2014

I don't know if a good bar mitzvah student would question much of what they read. I do know that my parents would be pleased if I flunked out.

In any case, 35 years ago I was in Mexico City and I watched someone giving money to a begging woman with a malnourished child. After the woman received the money, I followed her into the church and watched her slip the money into a box on the wall. If I were G_d, I'd want the money to buy some food for her little kid.

Mike, a student from the 70s, wisely wrote, “How do you hold a loose federation of clans together, except by ensuring that all are deeply vested in some common goal? What psychological and emotional need was being fulfilled in trading one form of bondage under Egypt for another under religious law? Was G-d playing to human nature or was Moses? Whatever ... it seemed to have worked in congealing a new ‘national’ identity.”

I think Mike nailed it, in a sense. Though I didn't like the pragmatisic justification he was suggesting. The end justifies the means. Oh yea? No wonder my parents steered me away from religion. And yet, Mike is probably right. It might have been the only way.

We look askance at the Scientology folks who sign their bank account over to their church. How is this different? We certainly are learning in these parshahs the meaning of “put your money where your mouth is."

Parshat Vayak'hel, (Exodus 35-1:35-20)-2/16/2014

If I took a day off I would have not “done anything for 9 1/2 years.” But then I can think about all the time I waste everyday. I couldn't write or draw ... and do all the work to bath my spirit. We are told to make offerings to the Lord. It doesn't need our offerings, so the “giving” must be for us. It seems that this is for atonement for the Jews making the golden lamb. Or is the golden lamb just symbolic for all of our bad actions? I suspect so.

When I read that Moses says the Lord says you should give all these things to the temple then I get suspicious. Is Moses making this up so that his temple will be supported? If I were a little more generous with Moses, I might think he made this up because he knew that it is good for people to rest, and it is good for people to give. And even if Moses didn't literally hear G_d, since he is made by G_d, are his words G_d's words? And if G_d is simply our construction for all, then does any of this matter.? The wisdom of a sage is not dependent on the credentials of the sage, but more whether the statement is, in itself, wise. Right?

Is it the children of Israel's guilt that leads them to follow Moses? Are these wise actions for people to do one day a week? I remember in various places I lived where many stores were closed on Sunday. It was always frustrating, but I suppose we got used to it as well. What would a Jew do upon reading this? And why?

Parshat Ki Tisa, (Exodus 34-27:34-35)-2/15/2014

Moses did not know that his face was radiant after inscribing the stones with the covenant. After he came down the mountain, he covered his face except when he was talking to his people ... or to the Lord.

The people were afraid of him ... but finally they came to him and he told them everything that he had been told by the Lord. Rashi said that they were afraid of the radiance since they had sinned by making the golden calf. Before that, they had seen the fire coming from the mountain top (Exod 24:14), and they were not frightened.

After talking to his people, Moses put the veil back on his face.

We have a hard time talking to famous people. I've had opportunities and most the time blow it. It is a challenge for me, and probably for others. We'd say, I'd love to spend an hour with so and so ... but given that opportunity, we might be speechless.

G_d had told Moses to bring the stones and that G_d would do the inscribing ... yet, here it says that Moses did the inscribing. One of many contradictions in the Torah.

If I had any brains, I'd quit reading the Torah and find myself two stones and carve the commandments on them.

Parshat Ki Tisa, (Exodus 34-10:34-26)-2/14/2014

He says things will be different than they have ever been. I like that. Thinking outside of the box.

This is the second attempt to give the commandments.

I don't like the idea that He is asking the Jews to demolish other altars. Earlier today I was upset with a couple of friends because they were not allowing multiple belief systems.

He is called “Jealous One” meaning that (according to Rashi) that he is steadfast in his superiority over other deities, and demands retribution upon those who forsake Him.

Such trouble has come from the separation of Jew and Gentile. This is very bothersome to me ... that people are so prone to not allow diverse thinking. That, for me, is the joy of life. Being able to dance lots of different steps.

The interesting thing here is that people are told how to live, and crucial to that way is that it is different than how others live. This has been the pattern of my life ... taking the road not taken. Or at least thinking I was making independent judgements. I heard a story about how Suzuki Roshi told the hippies, “you think you are all different with the clothes you wear. But to me you all look the same. But when you meditate, then I can see that you are all different.” We all hated conformity and swore in blood that we wouldn't ever conform. By following a “covenant” are we conforming? Is it bad?