By Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal
SAN DIEGO — Two years ago my congregation embarked on a grand experiment. Instead of “charging” for synagogue membership we changed to a free will donation system we call T’rumah.
T’rumah has been a success, although a qualified success. Many of our members chose to increase or maintain their previous membership gift to the synagogue, others decreased their donation. In order for T’rumah to succeed in the long run, members of our community must continue to be motivated by the Biblical injunction from which it springs: “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him.” (Ex. 25:1-2)
It should go without saying that God expected the Israelites to contribute generously. Unexpected, however, was the extent to which they extended themselves. The Mishkan, the Tent of Worship they built, was a glorious, as well as sacred, structure. Parashat Acharei Mot describes the Yom Kippur atonement rite. Aaron, the High Priest, was instructed to enter the Holy of Holies on that day alone. This was the only time during the year that the High Priest was allowed to enter this sacred space. The rabbis wondered what gave him the courage and inspiration to do so.
The Torah instructs: “With this (b’zot) shall Aaron enter the Shrine…” (Lev. 16:3) The rabbis noted that the Torah used similar language when it was explaining T’rumah: “And these (v’zot) are the gifts that you shall accept from them…” (Ex. 2:3) From this similar use of language they concluded that Aaron was only able to enter the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur through the merit of the Israelites contributing T’rumah, their free will offerings to build the Mishkan.
Rabbi Yosef Feimer of Slutsk explained that what made the Israelites’ contribution so extraordinary was the heartfelt generosity and spirit with which they came forward. As soon as they heard there was a need, they came forward. No one had to send them follow-up emails or letters, make phone calls, or ask them twice. It was not as much their donations which empowered Aaron to come before God on the holiday, as the joy and wholeheartedness with which the people gave.
*
Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)
Rabbi Rosenthal is spiritual leader of Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego. He may be contacted via leonard.rosenthal@sdjewishworld.com Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)