I am very excited for the opportunity to share words of Torah with you. Each week, in this spot, I look to share an idea I've found that speaks to me and that I think will resonate with you as well. This week, I share an excerpt from an article by Rabbi Avi Geller entitled 'Achieving Levels of Personal Holiness', which shares an interesting idea about Traditional Jewish Pluralism.
[...] The 12 princes donated 6 wagons to the Temple for the Levites to transport the Tabernacle from place to place, besides the holy vessels that were carried on their shoulders. The princes then dedicated the altar with the first donated offerings. [...T]hey made sure to be first in line at the dedication ceremonies.
God said, "Let each prince bring on a different day," in order to prevent jealousy among them, and to emphasize that they are all equal, unique, and important in the eyes of God. The 12 tribal princes all brought the exact same offering - without collaborating in advance. But they each brought it with different intentions. [...]
In this section, the Torah repeats the exact service for 12 times and then gives a sum total. Why does the Torah, which is generally stingy with words, have to suddenly be so generous with the dedication of the tabernacle? [In a similar vein,] In the story of Eliezer finding a wife for Isaac, why does the Torah tell us this story over again and again?
The Torah loves originality! If you can think of a novel way to come to Torah (within the bounds of Jewish law of course), the Torah devotes much time and effort for it to speedily come to fruition! Eliezer figured out, by himself, that the best wife for Abraham's son Isaac was one who performed kind deeds. The Princes each had a new way to serve God, so the Torah goes to great lengths to list these accomplishments. That's Jewish pluralism! (Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe)
To illustrate this idea, imagine a study hall on the holiday of Sukkot, and inside are the Vilna Gaon, Maimonides, the Baal Shem Tov, the Ben Ish Chai, and Rabbi S.R. Hirsch -- all shaking the 4 species! Although they seem to be doing the same act, each one has a totally different and unique intention. These are the many ways to serve God [...]
Have a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Davies
Rabbi@SOICherryHill.org
