The Miracle of Giving

This week’s Torah portion is Vayakel, which means, and assembled. Moses assembles the people to begin work on the Tabernacle. He asks them to bring free-will contributions of gold, silver, copper, fabric, wood, and animal skins. They return and bring so much, day after day, that there is extra, and Moses tells them that there is enough. The portion ends with the actual construction of the shining furniture and the sacred enclosures.

In verse 36:4 the Torah says, “All the wise people came.” This phrase refers to those who were skilled, who knew how to use their talents to construct the Sanctuary, the lace curtains, the embroidered tapestries, and the holy furniture. But in a broader sense, “all the wise people came,” can also refer to those who made any contribution: money, materials, knowledge, or labor: from the wealthiest people, the princes, who contributed the precious stones for the High Priest’s breastplate, to the children who probably brought water and food to the workers. Since we are all One, giving in any form means that we are giving to God, to others, and also to ourselves. We can’t give just to one without giving to all three. The Universe is structured that way.

Knowing how the Universe works, knowing about being One with God and each other is wisdom, and when this wisdom is translated into conscious choice and conscious action it is a powerful engine leading to spiritual growth and the expansion of a person’s compassion and goodness, the ability to be a mensch in the world. The Torah also tells us, in Deuteronomy, Verse 15:10: “You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because for this thing the Eternal your God shall bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to.” This means that the blessing we give somehow returns to us.

This D'var Torah is only half of the sermon I gave last week. I read a story from the book, Lamed Vav, the favorite stories of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. In short, a poor man whose children and wife went about in rags, somehow saved enough to buy a farm. But a widow in the town discovered that when her husband died they were destitute, and her daughter's wedding into a wealthy family was in peril. The poor man gave his life savings to the widow so that her daughter could marry the man she loved. The poor man and his family was greatly blessed with unimaginable wealth. During WWII, all his descendants were taken to Auschwitz and every one survived. They came penniless to this country, but within a month, the family was wealthy again. Shabbat Shalom!