A Thought For This Shabbat
* * * * * * * *  * February 19th*    2016    * * * * * * * *

                         
     
     
I am actually looking forward to reading the Torah portion this Saturday morning.

Let me rephrase that.

I can finally read this annual section and not dread it.
This week's section is from Exodus (Chapters 27- 30) and outlines the preparations for and the functions of the ancient priesthood of Israel.

Yeah. That one.

The one with the sacrificial service.

And the various animals to be offered and parts to be burned.

And the incense.

And the installation ceremony for the priests.

Oh, and the garments. Lots and lots of details about the priestly garments.

Zzzzzz

Wake me up when it's over.

Oh, right. I have to chant it out loud for the congregation on Saturday.

Then, shoot me. Please. Preferably before I have to read it.

Wait.

Enter Benno Jacob. A Polish Reform rabbi of the 20th century. Love this guy. He just breathed life into this section for me. 

Rabbi Jacob offered something remarkable about this section to consider when reading it. He noticed that in the Torah, all products of civilization and culture are attributed to human inventive genius and not to G-d. Farming. Animal husbandry. Wine making. Building. Music. Writing. Fire. The Torah notes all these not as gifts from G-d but discovered and harnessed by human beings created in the image of G-d.

Except clothing. Curiously, the first outfitter was G-d.

"And the L-rd G-d made for Adam and his wife garments of skins and clothed them." (Gen. 3:21)

And here, Rabbi Jacob notes, the L-rd is quite specific in telling Moses what the priests of Israel must wear. Pretty exact. Down to the belt.

G-d is rather obsessed with clothing.

Intelligent Design? More like Intelligent Designer. (Sorry. I couldn't resist that)

Back to my thought.

Writes Rabbi Jacob: Clothing is not merely a protection against cold or ornamentative. In the Torah, it constitutes G-d's primary and necessary distinguishing mark of human society. The glory of human beings is reflected in the nature of his or her attire. In the presence of others and the presence of G-d.

In other words, clothing is important to G-d as a symbol of human dignity. Nakedness, the essence of the beast. And G-d wants to remind us that nothing is more critical than for a human being to always be robed in dignity. We are not just any creature. Humans are created in G-d's image and both in the field and in the sanctuary, we wear raiment that express our nobility.

Don't rush out to buy that designer suit just yet.

Rabbi Jacob's point for this section is far more than just about what we wear but about our obligation to preserve not just our own dignity but the dignity of others.

G-d is teaching through this concern for clothing that there is a need for us to constantly be mindful of the majesty of our fellow human beings. Each and every one of us is not just another creature on this planet but G-d's most beloved creation. Nakedness is for the beast (and frankly, they often wear it better.) G-d wants humans to stand out nobly, proudly, and girded in splendor. 

All humans.

And that is why whether in the Garden of Eden or the Sacred Sanctuary, in the villages or in the streets, it our obligation to imitate G-d in that role. We can act like G-d:

"When you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood." 
-Book of Isaiah

"I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me."
- Book of Matthew

"Any Muslim who gives a Muslim a garment to wear will be in Allah's safekeeping as long as a shred of it remains on him"
- attributed to Muhammad

Clothes do not make the man.

Clothing the needy and the poor does.

Take it from L-rd and Tailor.
(Bet you saw that one coming.)


                           Shabbat shalom!

Rabbi Victor Urecki 

B'nai Jacob Synagogue
1599 Virginia St. East
Charleston, West Virginia 25311
304-346-4722
www.bnaijacob.com
"Traditional Judaism
For a Modern World"