Details,Details…
Parashat Ki Tisa
As an artist I am quite used to being in conflict with procedural issues. I don’t mind trying to follow directions, but not without first looking at the directive from all possible angles, and trying to find the best way to ensure that the results reflect my personal spin on things. Of course this approach is essential in music, or writing, but what about my practice of traditional Judaism? Is my creative nature forced to be subservient to the details of living a life informed by Jewish law?
In this weeks parasha we are introduced to one of the most inspiring figures in the Torah, the master artist Bezalel. “ And I have filled him with the spirit of G-d, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and skill” (Ex 31:3).
Why the need to add a new face to the team? Certainly between Moshe, Aaron, the elders, and tribal leaders, there was quite a brain trust. Couldn’t they grasp the details of the building of the mishkan on their own?
It seems that the Torah realizes that there needs to be someone who can think out of the box, with great aesthetic instincts, to reflect artistically on the details of fulfilling the divine imperative. Even King Solomon, the wisest of all human beings, needed to send for Hiram “….and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill….” (1 Kings 7:14). [Note the exact same language was used to describe Bezalel, except for Bezalel’s being “…filled with the spirit of G-d….” That was reserved only for Bezalel, who was selected by G-d directly.]
We all have a part of Bezalel in each of us, and even in quite limited ways our truly creative urges never fail to satisfy. What better way to honor our Creator than our own creativity?
Directly after the appointment of Bezalel and his assistant Oholiav we get a set of conditional terms, details concerning creativity and the sanctity of Shabbat. Creative endeavors are to be subservient to the Shabbat, our efforts to act G-d like during the week are contrasted with our efforts to refrain from creating on Shabbat. The Torah does not use the word Avodah, meaning menial work, but rather melacha, meaning creative, transformative work. I can use my creative energy, the primal force that causes me to exert my individuality in the world, to help me avoid creating. This is the time to delve deep into the details of Jewish law, and the reward is the added appreciation of the gift of creativity itself.
If we choose to disregard this paradigm then the alternative is an Aigel Masaicha, a Golden Calf- a commercial replacement for spiritual creativity. This is a very powerful and seductive force, but not our true essence. In our narrative the results are catastrophic, causing the divine spirit to retreat. After some impassioned petitioning by Moshe, the people are given another chance, an opportunity to grow from their flirtation with pagan practice, with shallow creativity.
G-d instructs the Israelites not to make any more “elohay masaicha”, molten gods. It is interesting that in modern Hebrew the word masaicha can also mean “mask”. Do not practice an anonymous, inauthentic creativity, take your mask off if you want to truly have a spiritually fulfilling life.
The very next verse is the commandment to observe the festival of Pesach, to eat only leaven free matza for seven days. Leaven is an enhancement to the natural qualities of our basic food, a creative addition . By abstaining from leaven during Pesach we are removing our masks, reexamining our roles not as creators, but as create-ees.
The laws of Pesach are very detailed, much more complicated than Shabbat. Here the Torah is giving us a week-long opportunity to realign ourselves, to hone our sensitivity to the power of creation, and truly delight in having been created ourselves. This awareness is holiness itself, an immersion in a mikvah of time. We can look forward to the transitional moment of each week, the “havdalah”, or separation we make at the end of Shabbat and holidays, knowing we can forge ahead as creative beings, with G-d’s blessing upon us.
Details to follow…
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Greg