Beth El of Lancaster
(717) 581-7891
office@tbelancaster.org
MENUMENU
  • Welcome
    • About Temple Beth El

      • Welcome!
      • Re-Opening Guidelines
      • Membership
      • Mission, Vision & History
      • Our Facility
      • Bulletin
      • Our Holocaust Torah
    • Leadership & Staff

      • Meet Cantor Chesler
        • Cantors Corner
  • Service & Community
    • SERVICE & COMMUNITY

      • Committees
      • Sisterhood
      • Men’s Club
      • Youth Group (USY/Kadima)
      • Chesed Committee
      • Community Events
  • Worship & Torah Explorer
    • Shabbat & Holidays

      • Torah Explorer
      • Worship at Temple Beth El
      • Religious Services
      • Candlelighting Times
      • High Holiday Services
      • Members Only
  • Learning at TBE
    • LIFE LONG LEARNING

      • Temple Beth El Religious School
      • Adult Education
      • Beth Pomerantz Education Series
  • Support Us
    • SUPPORT US

      • Opportunities For Giving
      • Temple Beth El Lancaster Secure Payment & Donation Page
      • Membership
      • Endowment/Fund for the Future
  • Judaica Shop
  • Contact Us
    • CONTACT US

      • Contact Us
      • Locate Us and Directions

Torah Thoughts: Parashat Naso 5781

Posted on May 20, 2021

Be Original, Be Yourself!

By Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky

This week we read parashat Naso, which is the longest Torah section. Not surprisingly, this parasha also includes the longest chapter in the Torah, Numbers 7, which includes 89 verses.

This long chapter talks about the gifts (or offerings) brought by the heads of each one of the twelve tribes of Israel on the occasion of the inauguration of the Tabernacle. The Torah describes in detail the offering from each, but each head brought exactly the same gift! (that is the reason the chapter is so long, by the way).

As you may have heard, there are no redundancies in the Torah, but only opportunities to teach new lessons. What lesson can we learn from the repetition of the offering brought by each head of the tribes? The sages explain that no head of tribe copied the gifts of the other heads of tribes. In fact, the sages add, even when everyone brought the same gift, each person brought his gift with his own and unique intentions. The lesson is that sometimes it is more important the way we give/bring something than what we give/bring.

In our modern society we tend to try to be as original as we can, and sometimes we exaggerate a bit! People worry not to say what other people have said, not to wear what other people wear, and so on. We try to give the world something new and different. One the one hand, that is very hard to do, because we are all consumed with the same hopes and fears. We all circle around the same aspiration— to be happy, to live better. Therefore, if we want to give the world (or those around us) something new and completely different, we will probably fail.

However, on the other hand, we are indeed different. Our experiences, our contexts, our viewpoints are unique. If we stay true to ourselves, we will create something new, something that has never existed before. There resides our advantage!

The heads of the tribes of Israel brought the same offering to the inauguration of the Tabernacle. Did they need to be more original? In fact, they were original, because each one of them brought, together with the offering, his own and unique feelings, experiences, and personality. We don’t need to waste our time and energy thinking about how to be more original than others. We need to be true to ourselves and allow our uniqueness to flow through our actions and words.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rami

« Torah Thoughts: Parashat B’midvar 5781
Parashat B’haalotcha 5781 »

Service Times – In Person & Online

Friday Evening: 7:30 pm Saturday Morning: 10:00 am Sunday Minyan: 9:00 am

VISITORS & GUESTS
Due to the COVID - 19 Pandemic, the building is re-opening with strict guidelines.(CLICK ON LINK BELOW) We are still holding online services. If you wish to attend an online service you will need to contact the Office by email at office@tbelancaster.org at least 24 hours in advance for instructions. You will need to pre register to receive ZOOM sign in information. READ OUR COVID RE-OPENING GUIDELINES HERE!

Temple Business Hours

Monday: Office closed Tuesday: Office 11 - 5 Wednesday: Office 11 - 5 Thursday: Office 11 - 5 Friday: Office 11 - 2

Quick Links

  • United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
  • United Synagogue Youth (USY)
  • JCAL – Jewish Community Alliance of Lancaster
  • Jewish Family Services of Lancaster
  • PJ Library of Lancaster
  • Silver Academy, Harrisburg PA
  • Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
  • Mercaz USA: The Zionist Organization of the Conservative Movement

Archives

  • Contact Us
  • Locate Us and Directions
© Temple Beth El Lancaster