Dear Friends,
We all know this – sometimes we have important matters to discuss with just a few key family members or close friends. It is not something to be discussed with everyone. Similarly in the synagogue, there are times when I have concerns which I only bring to the Temple President, and other issues which I bring to the Executive Committee or the Board. And, there are other matters which are shared broadly with everyone.
This is basic.
And it is interesting that this arises in our Torah portion this week. In a simple, innocuous verse which opens our portion, we read, “Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them…” (Exodus35:1) Elsewhere, it is common to read that God spoke to Moses, or to Moses and Aaron. But rarely do we encounter God gathering all of the Jewish people together for a conversation.
Clearly, this was special. God was about to finalize the instruction for making the holy Tabernacle in the desert, and needed to have total “buy-in.” All the Israelites would be encouraged to contribute towards this huge undertaking, and if there were any naysayers, it could undermine both the people’s unity in the desert, and their construction endeavor.
But more, there are some matters for which it is important that everyone attends and participates in hearing. This is true in our ancient people’s life, as well as in present communal and family life, no less. I trust that we all have felt the sting of having been left out of some discussion – in the office, at home, in the neighborhood or on social media. Not only may important information not be transmitted, but it
can hurt. WE know when we are intentionally, or even unintentionally excluded – when the whole community is not fully convoked.
Similarly, I heard a Democratic Congressman on the radio this week indicating that he and others were blindsided by recent voting decisions in the Senate. They had not been called together, the way that Moses convoked the whole Israelite community. It resulted in confusion, backlashes and anger.
Over the years, I have repeatedly preached that “the sin of omission is worse that the sin of commission.” In other words, if we include someone in an undertaking, and it goes awry, that is unfortunate. However, if we had omitted someone in the task or the conversation, despite photoshop, we cannot truly reinsert them in the picture. Hence, include all.
The Torah’s wisdom is so very simple, yet it is simply profound: “Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them…”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
We all know this – sometimes we have important matters to discuss with just a few key family members or close friends. It is not something to be discussed with everyone. Similarly in the synagogue, there are times when I have concerns which I only bring to the Temple President, and other issues which I bring to the Executive Committee or the Board. And, there are other matters which are shared broadly with everyone.
This is basic.
And it is interesting that this arises in our Torah portion this week. In a simple, innocuous verse which opens our portion, we read, “Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them…” (Exodus35:1) Elsewhere, it is common to read that God spoke to Moses, or to Moses and Aaron. But rarely do we encounter God gathering all of the Jewish people together for a conversation.
Clearly, this was special. God was about to finalize the instruction for making the holy Tabernacle in the desert, and needed to have total “buy-in.” All the Israelites would be encouraged to contribute towards this huge undertaking, and if there were any naysayers, it could undermine both the people’s unity in the desert, and their construction endeavor.
But more, there are some matters for which it is important that everyone attends and participates in hearing. This is true in our ancient people’s life, as well as in present communal and family life, no less. I trust that we all have felt the sting of having been left out of some discussion – in the office, at home, in the neighborhood or on social media. Not only may important information not be transmitted, but it
can hurt. WE know when we are intentionally, or even unintentionally excluded – when the whole community is not fully convoked.
Similarly, I heard a Democratic Congressman on the radio this week indicating that he and others were blindsided by recent voting decisions in the Senate. They had not been called together, the way that Moses convoked the whole Israelite community. It resulted in confusion, backlashes and anger.
Over the years, I have repeatedly preached that “the sin of omission is worse that the sin of commission.” In other words, if we include someone in an undertaking, and it goes awry, that is unfortunate. However, if we had omitted someone in the task or the conversation, despite photoshop, we cannot truly reinsert them in the picture. Hence, include all.
The Torah’s wisdom is so very simple, yet it is simply profound: “Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them…”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
