This Shabbat - Please join us at 9:15 a.m. for Torah Yoga led by Jackie Gadd.
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Dear Friends:
This week's D'var Torah was suggested by Norm Katz, our Financial V.P. and regular Torah Reader. Norm will be reading Torah this Shabbat and leading our Torah Discussion Group with Bob Sherman following the service.
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| The Mishkan |
The construction of the Mishkan, the traveling tent in which the Israelites worshiped, is described in parashat Va-yak-hel. It was an elaborate structure requiring a lot of skill, labor, and material. In parashat Va-yak-hel Moses told the Israelites that God had chosen two skilled craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, to lead and manage the project.
The midrash says that the socio-economic background of these two men could not have been more different. While Bezalel grew up in a wealthy family, Oholiab was raised in modest surroundings. However, their economic backgrounds were irrelevant to God when God chose them to head the construction of the Mishkan. As Rashi puts it, "God does not favor the rich over the poor." Each man was selected and honored for the contribution that he could make.
When it came time to build the Mishkan every Israelite was expected to make a financial contribution. The Torah did not specify a set amount, rather, "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts from every person whose heart so moves him.'" (Ex. 25:2-3)  |
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Torah School Tzedakah
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Every Israelite was expected to bring a freewill offering of their own choosing to build the sanctuary, but God did not say how much. God had faith in the Israelites. God knew that because of their love of their faith and tradition, they would be as generous as possible.
As most of you know from the parlor meetings we have been holding, Tifereth Israel Synagogue is considering a radical new way of funding our congregation. This new approach informs our members of how much money it costs per member to sustain our congregation (the "sustaining number") and then invites them to contribute as generously as their "heart so moves them."
If we go in this direction, there will no longer be set dues or dues adjustments. Our financial well-being will depend completely on the freewill offerings of our members.
Will this new approach be successful? The answer depends completely upon the generosity of our members.
Is this approach really new? No, it goes back to the time when our ancestors erected the first sanctuary to God in the Sinai desert.
As Norm wrote me, "By empowering each of our members with the ability to decide for themselves, unimpeded, how much they pledge to the synagogue, we are emulating the commandment of "kol n'div libo y'vieha et t'rumat Hashem - Everyone who's heart impels him to generosity shall bring a t'rumah offering to God." (Ex. 35:5)
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
Tifereth Israel Synagogue
San Diego, CA 92119
