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| Fri, 10 May 2024 04:27:44 -0500 — |
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D'var: Parashat Vayikra 5783 Commentary by Michael Goldstein Friday, March 24, 2023 |
| Leviticus 1:1 — 5:26 |
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Thoughts on Parashat Vayikra (March 24, 2023) In this week’s Parashat, the first in Leviticus, God tells Moses about various types of offerings… almost all of which are animal sacrifices. He designates under what circumstances the sacrifice is to be made, which animals are acceptable, and exactly how it is to be done. He explains the different offerings that atone for guilt or sins, and distinguishes between sins committed inadvertently and sins committed on purpose. In all the descriptions, the killing is cruel, whether it is a four-legged beast or a bird. Leviticus Chapter 1, Verse 3 If his sacrifice is a burnt offering from cattle, an unblemished male he shall bring it. He shall bring it willingly to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, before the Lord. The 11th Century French Rabbi and Torah scholar, Rashi, highlighted the conflict between coercing participants and willingly offering sacrifices in his analysis of the phrase, “He shall bring it.” Rashi wrote that it means, “they must coerce him until he says "I am willing."” And, therein, is a message. Today, we are often faced with the choice between pushing people to take action and having them take action because they feel morally compelled to do so; to willingly give of their time and resources. However, there are times when collective action is absolutely necessary for a mitzvah. In creating a movement or an event to further a cause, a base of support is generally needed since a single individual simply does not have the power, resources, and influence that a group has. A good example is an association lobbying for a specific cause. There are many problems today that need the kinds of help only communities of interest can provide. Here’s an update on three of them. First, the Environment Scientists have become increasingly adamant about the urgent need for human action to curb climate change. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency projects that our average surface temperature is likely to increase between 2.5 degrees and 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit in this century. That’s up to ten times what it was in the 20th Century, and potentially the greatest increase in the last 10,000 years. The latest estimate puts the increase at 2.4 degrees by 2035! We all should help make those numbers better for our children and our children’s children. Second, Poverty Not in foreign lands, but right here in the United States. According to the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which takes into account things like living expenses and government aid (including housing assistance and food stamps), more than two million people aged 65 or older lived in deep poverty in 2021. Deep poverty is defined as half or less of the poverty line. In 2022, our child poverty rate was 12.8% -- roughly double that of several other developed nations including Canada, South Korea, and Germany. Here in Texas, child poverty was an unacceptable 20%, ranking us 38th out of 50 states. Poverty is a piling on of problems. It is chronic pain, on top of tooth rot, on top of harassment by debt collectors, on top of fears of eviction. It suffocates talents and dreams. And it brings early deaths. Its persistence in American life should shame us. Third, Bigotry – more specifically, Anti-Semitism in America In 2022, there were 3,697 criminal and non-criminal anti-Semitic incidents in the U. S., more than in any year since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking it in 1979. That’s ten per day and 36% more than in 2021. Acts of harassment, vandalism, and assault directed specifically at Jews took place in nearly every corner of our nation. In the U. S., Jews account for 2.4% of the population, but we are the victims in 8.7% of all hate crimes and 55% of all religious hate crimes. While the Jewish population here in Texas is only about six tenths of one percent (0.06), in 2022, it was the fifth highest state in total anti-Semitic incidents with 211. In 2019, 11% of Americans believed six or more anti-Jewish tropes. By 2022, that number had grown to 20%. Okay, now that I’ve managed to depress you, let me tell you what I believe. I believe that all of us here accept the principle that, as individuals, we have an obligation to recognize where the crises are and to respond to calls for assistance or even generate them ourselves. I believe we should strongly encourage people to participate in one or more worthy causes, even if they are not yet fully committed to whatever those particular causes are. They will feel rewarded and that will help fully commit them. I believe that is how we will continue to strengthen our Jewish Community of the Hill Country. I hope you agree. Michael Goldstein |
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