A translation of the title for our parsha this week is Laws (of the Torah). It begins with directions for ritual purification. Could this be relevant to a Reform Jew today? You probably guessed it; my answer is YES!
Instruction manuals are helpful. Many of us don’t start there, though, do we? We assess an item in need of assembly and think, “This looks straightforward, it can’t be that complicated, let me just try this…” And then despite things looking good and thinking we’ve put it all together, there’s something just a little off. The item isn’t working and we think, “Maybe I’ll take a look at those instructions after all.”
Instruction manuals are helpful. Many of us don’t start there, though, do we? We assess an item in need of assembly and think, “This looks straightforward, it can’t be that complicated, let me just try this…” And then despite things looking good and thinking we’ve put it all together, there’s something just a little off. The item isn’t working and we think, “Maybe I’ll take a look at those instructions after all.”
So, too, with the human experience. We jump in, living life, and putting things together the best we can, and then something isn’t working. We’ve stalled or hit a roadblock. Our Teaching this week is here to remind us that the Torah is an instruction manual for living our lives well. It takes time to read Torah closely, we benefit from sifting through generations of commentary along with the original text, and we are meant to do this in community. We’re glad that you’ve chosen Temple De Hirsch Sinai to be that community.