In chapter 7
of today’s parasha, we learn about the rituals surrounding the various
sacrifices that the Israelites were commanded to give. Those sacrifices included the burnt offering,
the grain offering, the purification offering, the reparation offering, the
sacrifice of well-being, and the freewill offering. Chapters 8 details the
rituals surrounding the role of the kohanim, the priestly clan, who help those
making the offerings.
For many,
just reading the multitude of details surrounding these rituals may seem boring
and long-winded. However, when you think
about Judaism, it has always made a point of translating its core beliefs into
concrete actions. Ritual has always played
a major role in Jewish life because it is designed to reinforce Jewish belief.
In the case of the offerings, they connect feelings of gratitude, struggling
with iniquity, of wanting to be closer to G-d into concrete actions. That is even the case in this day and age. The
concrete actions of ritual point us toward Judaism’s message.
Think about
the holiday of Pesach which we will be celebrating in just one month. We will sit down at a seder, eat matzah,
avoid eating chametz, eat bitter herbs, drink 4 cups of wine, and relate the
stories in the Haggadah. Over the
centuries, there has been the understanding that seder rituals are able to
connect us to the theme of what it means to be a free person with ultimate
allegiance to G-d. I believe that the
seder rituals are more powerful than just reading an academic book about freedom
in one’s spare time.
Think about
the holiday of Yom Kippur when we fast, don’t wear leather, don’t bathe or
engage in sexual activity. Instead we spend long hours focused on reciting
prayers asking for forgiveness. Each
aspect of those rituals is designed to help us focus on doing teshuvah, on
recognizing our responsibility to help meet the needs of our fellow human
beings and to provide us with a sense that we are accountable for what we do in
this life.
Our rituals
give us a way to give meaning to the everyday.
They help us add holiness to our lives. They are observed because they
put belief into action. Celebrating an aufruf in our sanctuary today is an
example of putting belief into action.
It signifies that marriage is not just nice but also an expression of
the sacred nature of the relationship that exists between two individuals that
also impacts community. The word aufruf refers to being called up to the Torah for
an Aliyah prior to one’s wedding. As you
know, traditionally, it was only the male who was called for an Aliyah. Today, we have had the pleasure of calling
both Katie and Dan to the Torah.
Katie and
Dan, when I spoke to Dan’s parents I began to think that when two people meet
in a place far away from their homes of origin, and find that they fit together
so perfectly, it is indeed a blessing. Your desire to enter into marriage is a
sign that you are ready to face the future together because of your enduring
love for one another. You are
experienced enough in life to know that marriage takes work, as does anything
worth having and keeping. May your
relationship continue to grow over the years, may you be patient with one
another, and never take each other for granted.
May G-d bless you with health, happiness, and abundant love. May the
home you establish be filled with respect, kindness, and laughter and with
Jewish rituals which will give expression to the values you share. Thank you so much for letting us in on the
joy of your special relationship with one another. We are so very happy for you both and wish
you a hearty mazel tov.
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