What’s your favorite part of the bedroom routine with your children? A story? A song? Mine is a recap of the day, and as we see in Pekudei, this too is Torah.
Maimonides, our great Jewish legal expert from the 12th century, created a hierarchy of giving. It’s a series of eight levels, the order of which is based on the relationship between giver and recipient, with level one being the purest form of gift from one human to another.
The building of the Mishkan was like a giant potluck . . . with a little less pasta salad. This too is Torah.
The excitement over the recent $1.5 billion lottery jackpot now seems like a distant memory. I probably don’t need to confirm this for you, but sadly, I did not win. Still, in my fantasy scenario, the money would have been spent on paying off my rabbinical school debt, setting aside money for my children’s future, some charitable donations to help offset the cost of Jewish education in the community, and a little left over to enjoy as I travelled the world and pursued my passions.
Even God has temper tantrums. In Ki Tissa, we see a role reversal with Moshe as the “parent” who has to mediate.
My wedding band is inscribed with the words “As a seal upon your heart” in Hebrew. Originally from Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), this verse on my finger serves as a daily reminder in several ways. When Duncan and I were ring shopping, I wanted the “plain gold band” we’d need for the ceremony to also be one that we both felt comfortable wearing every day.
Your clothing can reveal a lot about where you work, the climate in which you live, and even your attitude on a particular day. And yes, this too is Torah.
