Dear Friends,
One is liable for misuse of sacred property, the Talmud, our 5th century code of Jewish law declared.
Hence, if I damage the Temple’s Torah when I am entrusted to safeguard it, I am responsible.
If a doctor harms a patient’s body when entrusted to heal it, the physician is liable.
And, if a President damages a nation’s economy when charged to protect it, isn’t he responsible?
The Talmud derives this injunction from an innocuous verse which opens this week’s Torah portion: “The priest shall dress in linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar. He shall then take off his vestments and put on other vestments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a pure place.” (Leviticus 6:3-4)
Rabbi Yochanan, a great sage of the second century, stated that one is liable for misuse, since it is written: “And the priest shall put on his linen garment,” the priest must be sure that the garments are not soiled in his work. (BT Meilah 9a)
The implication is that the priest has both a duty to serve the people with propriety and decorum – in unsoiled garb – as well as to care for the material of the polity, notably the sacred garments, so that they may be used and maintained in proper condition.
Thus, to extrapolate: those engaged by the community to serve, protect and maintain the assets of the people are duty-bound to care for and conserve that which is entrusted to them. It is a covenantal bond which ties the leader and the led.
Years ago, when I was commencing my then-position in California, we conducted a beautiful ritual in which my then-retiring rabbinic predecessor passed a Torah to me, and charged me to continue the shalshelet achariut – the chain of responsibility – not only for the congregation, but also for its sacred objects. I took the Torah, and I have always born that sense of duty to the sacred synagogal belongings.
That chain evolved from the ancient priests and devolves to every one whose social or professional station includes serving the community. We are to keep the vestments unsoiled!
Shabbat Shalom, and Hag Kasher Sameach – for a Meaningful Passover!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
One is liable for misuse of sacred property, the Talmud, our 5th century code of Jewish law declared.
Hence, if I damage the Temple’s Torah when I am entrusted to safeguard it, I am responsible.
If a doctor harms a patient’s body when entrusted to heal it, the physician is liable.
And, if a President damages a nation’s economy when charged to protect it, isn’t he responsible?
The Talmud derives this injunction from an innocuous verse which opens this week’s Torah portion: “The priest shall dress in linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar. He shall then take off his vestments and put on other vestments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a pure place.” (Leviticus 6:3-4)
Rabbi Yochanan, a great sage of the second century, stated that one is liable for misuse, since it is written: “And the priest shall put on his linen garment,” the priest must be sure that the garments are not soiled in his work. (BT Meilah 9a)
The implication is that the priest has both a duty to serve the people with propriety and decorum – in unsoiled garb – as well as to care for the material of the polity, notably the sacred garments, so that they may be used and maintained in proper condition.
Thus, to extrapolate: those engaged by the community to serve, protect and maintain the assets of the people are duty-bound to care for and conserve that which is entrusted to them. It is a covenantal bond which ties the leader and the led.
Years ago, when I was commencing my then-position in California, we conducted a beautiful ritual in which my then-retiring rabbinic predecessor passed a Torah to me, and charged me to continue the shalshelet achariut – the chain of responsibility – not only for the congregation, but also for its sacred objects. I took the Torah, and I have always born that sense of duty to the sacred synagogal belongings.
That chain evolved from the ancient priests and devolves to every one whose social or professional station includes serving the community. We are to keep the vestments unsoiled!
Shabbat Shalom, and Hag Kasher Sameach – for a Meaningful Passover!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
