One of the primary tensions in religious life is the balance between tradition and change. What truths or values are eternal and do not change, what parts of a religious tradition can change or adapt to changing times and how do we know? The Jewish religion has been deeply engaged in this process since the late 18th Century when Jews first received citizenship in America, France and then most of Western Europe. The Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox Jewish movements are all adaptations to modernity. The arguments between these movements are debates about change, what can change and how quickly. Even Ultra-Orthodoxy is a modern movement, in the sense that it was established as a reaction to Reform and Modern Orthodoxy. This week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, brings the Book of Exodus to a close with the inauguration of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, where God’s presence dwelled and the Ark held the two tablets of the law. The Mishkan is a good metaphor for the tension between tradition and change. When the Jews wandered in the wilderness and when they first settled in the Land of Israel, the Mishkan was the center of their worship, the place where God’s presence dwelled. After the Israelites settled the land they built the First Temple in Jerusalem and God’s presence dwelled there. That temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and the Jewish people went into exile for 40 years. When they returned in 446 BCE they rebuilt the Temple and God’s presence dwelled there until the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE and Jewish religion adapted again. We changed from a religion of animal sacrifice to one based on study, prayer, and acts of loving kindness. Now God dwells among us, in our house of study, in our prayer services, and whenever we act in the world to make things better and more just. The one thing that has remained constant is our people’s covenant with God to be partners in bringing about God’s vision of a world of justice and dignity. This week’s Torah portion reminds us that the forms can change but our values are constant.
Pekudei, Exodus 38:21-40:38, Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, March 5, 2022
March 4, 2022 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
One of the primary tensions in religious life is the balance between tradition and change. What truths or values are eternal and do not change, what parts of a religious tradition can change or adapt to changing times and how do we know? The Jewish religion has been deeply engaged in this process since the late 18th Century when Jews first received citizenship in America, France and then most of Western Europe. The Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox Jewish movements are all adaptations to modernity. The arguments between these movements are debates about change, what can change and how quickly. Even Ultra-Orthodoxy is a modern movement, in the sense that it was established as a reaction to Reform and Modern Orthodoxy. This week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, brings the Book of Exodus to a close with the inauguration of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, where God’s presence dwelled and the Ark held the two tablets of the law. The Mishkan is a good metaphor for the tension between tradition and change. When the Jews wandered in the wilderness and when they first settled in the Land of Israel, the Mishkan was the center of their worship, the place where God’s presence dwelled. After the Israelites settled the land they built the First Temple in Jerusalem and God’s presence dwelled there. That temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and the Jewish people went into exile for 40 years. When they returned in 446 BCE they rebuilt the Temple and God’s presence dwelled there until the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE and Jewish religion adapted again. We changed from a religion of animal sacrifice to one based on study, prayer, and acts of loving kindness. Now God dwells among us, in our house of study, in our prayer services, and whenever we act in the world to make things better and more just. The one thing that has remained constant is our people’s covenant with God to be partners in bringing about God’s vision of a world of justice and dignity. This week’s Torah portion reminds us that the forms can change but our values are constant.
~Rabbi Dean Kertesz