Seeing the big picture sometimes requires a change in perspective.  A Hasidic teaching about the construction of the Mishkan, the portable wilderness tent the Israelites used for worshiping God, speaks about this type of shift in perspective.  Rabbi Mordecai Yosef Leiner, (Izbica, Poland, 1800-1854, “The Ishbitzer Rebbe”) taught that, at first, each Jewish craftsman (or –woman) who fashioned his or her small piece of the Mishkan was completely focused on completing his or her own work assignment – a peg, or wall-covering, or ornament in the construction of the massive tent.  Each person took great pride in his or her work, and may have even boasted privately about his or her skill.  But, the Ishbitzer Rebbe teaches, as “the Mishkan became one whole” (Exodus 36:13), each worker saw how all the pieces came together, and how they were all interconnected to produce a remarkable construction.  At that moment, each understood that his or her own skill or craftsmanship was not an essential quality of him or herself, but rather originated in something beyond each person; it came from God. 
    

When we see, if just for a moment, how our lives fit into the “bigger picture” – of human

history, or the larger workings of a community, or a life plan we can’t truly discern – we may be struck by a sense of smallness, gratefulness and humility.  The Ishbitzer teaches that when the Israelite craftsmen and women saw the Mishkan assembled, they realized that none of them was greater or lesser than another, and that even the person who had used his skill to build the Ark was in no way superior to the one who made a simple peg; they were all working for the same purpose, together, without any ego.  Only then could the Mishkan truly be complete.
            - Rabbi Andy Vogel

Sinai Update – February 10-16, 2008
Parashat Tetzaveh – (Exodus 27:20-30:10) 
Reflections on the Torah Portion – Rabbi Andy Vogel

At night, in a dark room, the change that a flashlight or an electric bulb brings is unmistakable.  Suddenly, what is unknown becomes fully illuminated, and our knowledge – of the shape of room, for example, or the furniture and objects surrounding us – is full.  When reading this week’s Torah portion describe the commandment to light an oil lamp continually in the Mishkan, the Israelites’ portable worship-tent, the rabbis saw an opportunity to talk about a similar transformation we can experience.  “You shall instruct the Children of Israel to bring you olive oil... to raise up a lamp regularly (l’ha’a lot ner tamid)” (Exodus 27:20).  A rabbinic midrash (Numbers Rabbah 15:7) asked the purpose for this particular wording (why “raise up” lamps?) – and the commandment’s rationale.  “If God created light from darkness, what need does God have for our lamps?” the rabbis asked.  The answer:  “The reason God asks us to kindle light is only to elevate us, as it says, ‘to raise up’ a lamp continually.”  All of Judaism, I believe, can be summarized with this idea:  Our religion is meant to bring us to a higher consciousness, a higher awareness of holiness, at all times, through our actions and our hearts.  Each act we perform with mindful awareness that we can live holy lives lights a metaphoric “lamp,” illuminating for us the meaning and purpose of our existence.
 - Rabbi Andy Vogel

Sinai Update – Week of February 3-9, 2008
Parashat  Terumah  (Exodus 25:1- 27:19)
Reflections on the Torah Portion – Rabbi Andy Vogel

Once, the great Rabbi Israel Meir HaKohen (known as the “Chofetz Chayim”) was doing a fundraising campaign for his house of Jewish learning, and a single affluent Jew approached him with an intriguing offer: he would pay for the entire building himself, alone.  The rabbi considered this opportunity very seriously – such generous proposals don’t come every day!  But after a moment, he responded to the tremendously kind offer by citing a verse from this week’s Torah portion:  “You shall take gifts from every person whose heart is willing” (Exodus 25:2), and the rabbi added that he believed “the entire community should have the privilege of contributing to the up-building of the community, not just one person.”
   His words echo an important value at Temple Sinai – also expressed in the Torah – that we take a democratic approach encouraging all our members to share in the honors of governance, fundraising, participation in Jewish learning and performance of other mitzvahs that build our community.  Overall, our congregation envisions a shared partnership in all aspects of our temple’s life, empowering each person to contribute directly from his or her heart.
 - Rabbi Andy Vogel