Dear Friends,
Starting last Shabbat we have entered the period where communities inside and outside of the Land of Israel are reading separate parshiyot. So in Israel we are studying בהעלתך, while outside of Israel we are still focused on נשא. What is interesting is that their titles reflect the same idea! בהעלתך is in the context of "raising up" of the lamps of the menorah. It does not talk about "kindling" them, but rather "raising them up" in the holy service of the mishkan.
Similarly, נשא reflects the standard language the Torah uses when describing how we should count people (נשא את ראש, כי תשא את ראש, שאו את ראש). Rather than saying "count," the language suggests "lifting up" the head of each person being counted. Moreover, this language seems to mirror our own understanding of how we receive God's blessing, as in the priestly blessing, "ישא ה׳ פניו אליך."
The Torah reminds us that holiness is achieved when we lift up things that seem ordinary -- lamps or people. In the wake of George Floyd (z"l)'s death, as we confront racial and economic injustice in our societies head on, we see our abject failure to do so. We think of ourselves as "enlightened societies" lit by the menorah of wisdom and progress, yet in 2020 a police officer can kneel on George Floyd z"l's neck while he dies, paying no heed to his pleas to breathe. And none of our societies are immune. The incident in Minneapolis reminds us of the death of Solomon Tekah, z"l last summer in Israel, and issues of police bias and racism exist in all of our communities. In so many ways, our societies are failing to lift each person and are blind to their inner light of potential and holiness. Our two parshiyot challenge us to do better, both in engaging and celebrating Jews of color in our own communities, and to work towards racial and economic justice in the world at large.
Further, I know that as rabbis we all fulfill this mitzvah of "lifting up" every person we encounter. But this week I've been reminded of that as I've spoken with some of our colleagues who serve as chaplains. While so many of us in recent weeks have been working beyond our capacities and in such extraordinary ways, our chaplains truly pay attention to every client, soldier, patient, family member, or staff member in their unique settings. In so many instances they are either trying to bring counseling and spiritual presence while maintaining physical distance, or they are taking their own health risks to be physically present. Often they have been the ones sitting next to a patient in a hospital or a resident of a nursing home, holding the phone while a family member is saying a final farewell. They are comforting grieving or overwhelmed family members, staff, and medical personnel. Their work is one person or family at a time, maintaining presence in each moment. And collectively their impact, along with all of our work, is extraordinary.
Our RA is making a special effort to reach out chaplains this month -- we have a survey for chaplains to fill out (please ONLY fill this out if you are a member of the RA and also a chaplain) so we can connect and support one another, and also an opportunity to share something they have learned with those of us who are in other professions. Throughout the summer, chaplains will be hosting peer to peer conversations (these conversations are only open to RA members who are also chaplains) to support one another in their shared work. If you know of a colleague who works in this capacity, check in with them, offer them your presence, and seek out their experiences and wisdom. Lift them up!
May Shabbat be a time to reflect on our experience of lifting up every person in the light of holiness, and may it inspire us to provide comfort and seek justice. May we live in a world in which, rather than counting people, we ensure that every person counts, and that each person's light is raised up upon a menorah that shines brightly with God's holy presence.
Warm regards and Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob Blumenthal