Fruits of Labor, Labor of Love
Good Shabbos everyone!
Ah. Things are turning so darn collegiate around here it’s transforming. Invasion is more what comes to mind. I’m actually reminded of the Catskills – void of Jews all year round UNTIL (fade in the Jaws soundtrack)… So too here. A tranquil campus where leaves have the right to rustle and brag about it, is now giving way to oversized Target bags, family wagons (getting hard to tell the difference between the suv’s and the regular cars, especially in the lexus/Mercedes range of things), stereo amp testings, and parents parading their Penn paraphernalia. Yes, the result of a lifetime’s hard work – sending the kids off to college (no inexpensive endeavor). So what would Judaism say about seasonal watershed events of accomplishment and gratitude? Funny you should ask….
The Torah portion being read this Freshman Shabbat (apparently a great draw for male upperclassmen as well….) is Ki Savo. Don’t read the second half because it’s a buzz kill. Of course, it’s wildly relevant, difficult to process, gnawing to the heartstrings, but frightfully matter-of-fact and certainly in need of understanding. These are the infamous curses of the Torah. Those of you who remember our discussions on suffering please apply what you’ve learned to this understanding, and those of you who’ve forgotten – time for a refresher. But rather the beginning of the portion marks the mitzvoh of bringing one’s first fruits to Jerusalem. The literal fruits of one’s labor, the sweat of one’s brow, the choicest of choicest are brought from far and near to the center of the universe as a declaration of our faith, unity, and utter service of the Almighty. Every morsel of food bears the insignia of an incorporated partnership between God and man – Sinai #613 – and as we reap our harvests and revel in the gift of life itself, we display our gratitude to the ‘Source of all goodness and life”. As expected.
However, the mitzvoh is thoroughly incomplete if not accompanied by a declaration. Even if brought with a song and a smile, our gift baskets are still lacking a vital organ – a declaration! No, not a declaration of subservience and submission. Not even a declaration of faith or appeasement. We bring our fruits with a declaration, an understanding of the entirety of Jewish history and struggle, purpose and perspective. We use the moments of greatest joy and appreciation to mark our place along the timeline of the Jewish people. Any event so spectacular, so fundamental, if left in isolation, is utterly wasted. There are no singular moments of accomplishment, even of gratitude. But rather we are one chronology, one entity, and in the Almighty’s eyes, unbound by time and physical limitation.
As we endeavor to begin a new year, as we set exorbitant goals because we believe in ourselves and joyfully trust those who believe in us, let’s find the appropriate map upon which to chart our position – to put this great transitional time of learning and growth into our historical and spiritual perspective and thereby intern in our hearts a love and appreciation of life, our talents, our blessings and our Source.
Ah. Things are turning so darn collegiate around here it’s transforming. Invasion is more what comes to mind. I’m actually reminded of the Catskills – void of Jews all year round UNTIL (fade in the Jaws soundtrack)… So too here. A tranquil campus where leaves have the right to rustle and brag about it, is now giving way to oversized Target bags, family wagons (getting hard to tell the difference between the suv’s and the regular cars, especially in the lexus/Mercedes range of things), stereo amp testings, and parents parading their Penn paraphernalia. Yes, the result of a lifetime’s hard work – sending the kids off to college (no inexpensive endeavor). So what would Judaism say about seasonal watershed events of accomplishment and gratitude? Funny you should ask….
The Torah portion being read this Freshman Shabbat (apparently a great draw for male upperclassmen as well….) is Ki Savo. Don’t read the second half because it’s a buzz kill. Of course, it’s wildly relevant, difficult to process, gnawing to the heartstrings, but frightfully matter-of-fact and certainly in need of understanding. These are the infamous curses of the Torah. Those of you who remember our discussions on suffering please apply what you’ve learned to this understanding, and those of you who’ve forgotten – time for a refresher. But rather the beginning of the portion marks the mitzvoh of bringing one’s first fruits to Jerusalem. The literal fruits of one’s labor, the sweat of one’s brow, the choicest of choicest are brought from far and near to the center of the universe as a declaration of our faith, unity, and utter service of the Almighty. Every morsel of food bears the insignia of an incorporated partnership between God and man – Sinai #613 – and as we reap our harvests and revel in the gift of life itself, we display our gratitude to the ‘Source of all goodness and life”. As expected.
However, the mitzvoh is thoroughly incomplete if not accompanied by a declaration. Even if brought with a song and a smile, our gift baskets are still lacking a vital organ – a declaration! No, not a declaration of subservience and submission. Not even a declaration of faith or appeasement. We bring our fruits with a declaration, an understanding of the entirety of Jewish history and struggle, purpose and perspective. We use the moments of greatest joy and appreciation to mark our place along the timeline of the Jewish people. Any event so spectacular, so fundamental, if left in isolation, is utterly wasted. There are no singular moments of accomplishment, even of gratitude. But rather we are one chronology, one entity, and in the Almighty’s eyes, unbound by time and physical limitation.
As we endeavor to begin a new year, as we set exorbitant goals because we believe in ourselves and joyfully trust those who believe in us, let’s find the appropriate map upon which to chart our position – to put this great transitional time of learning and growth into our historical and spiritual perspective and thereby intern in our hearts a love and appreciation of life, our talents, our blessings and our Source.
posted by Rabbi Lynn at
2:59 PM
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