Last week we began reading the Book of Numbers with a census. And our Bar Mitzvah student talked about how we all count. He reminded us that in the days of slavery in this country slaves only counted as 3/5 of a person and that is wrong.
There has been much talk about the American census again in the news this week. There is already a committee in place here in Elgin to make sure that everyone is counted. In fact, there is a subcommittee of religious leaders to make sure that happens. Our schools, our social service agencies, our libraries depend on accurate counting. Those committee meetings are a volunteer effort, headed by the Chamber of Commerce.
Today is about a different kind of counting. Today it is about how we count, tribe by tribe, for sacred service. What the tribal heads brought as an offering. How much of each thing. Down to the weight of the silver. How much flour and oil. It is a real accounting.
For “avodah”. It is said the world stands on three things, on Torah, on Avodah, on Gemilut Chasadim, acts of loving kindness. We know the song,
Al shlosha devarim..al hatorah, al ha’avodah, v’al gemilut chasadim.
But what is avodah? One name of the sacrificial offerings that the Israelites made was Avodah. It gets translated as service or sacrifice or work. You might know the song Zum gali, gali, gali, the Israeli folk song that praises work as a way to peace. Avodah in its root noun form can mean both slave, like avadim chayeinu, we were slaves in the land of Egypt. Or servant, as Moses was eved Adonai, servant of the Lord. This has always fascinated me. When we left Egypt did we trade slavery to Pharaoh for servitude of G-d?
But we don’t have a sacrificial system any more. So what relevance is today’s portion? How do we find meaning in it?
There was just such a conversation amongst the ancient rabbis. It is included in our siddur. Let’s listen in:
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai was once walking with his disciple, Rabbi Yehoshua, near Jerusalem after the destruction of the Temple. Rabbi Yehoshua looked at the Temple ruins and said: Alas for us!! The place that atoned for the sins of the people Israel lies in ruins! Then Rabbi Yochannan ben Zakkai spoke to him these words of comfort: Be not grieved, my son. There is another equally meritorious way of gaining ritual atonement, even though the Temple is destroyed. We can still gain ritual atonement through acts of loving kindness. For it is written (Hoshea 6:6) “Loving kindness I desire, not sacrifice.” Avot D’Rabbi Natan 4:5
Lovingkindness. Rather than an avodah sacrifice, what G-d requires, actually desires is acts of lovingkindess. G-d is looking for us to volunteer. And to be kind while we are doing it.
When I thought about what it means to volunteer, I found this quote on the City of Elgin website:
“The spirit of volunteerism among the residents of Elgin is one of the city’s greatest assets of our community! No matter what your talents, gifts or interests, there are many rewarding ways you can give back to your community through volunteerism. Whether you are interested in helping at a one-time event, or looking for a regular volunteer job, there are many opportunities available.”
So what is volunteering? You know I enjoy linguistics and etymology. Volunteer as a verb was first recorded in 1755. It was derived from the noun volunteer, in C.1600, “one who offers himself for military service,” from the Middle French voluntaire. Now we are back to last week’s portion and taking a military census. In a non-military sense it was first recorded in the 1630s. In more recent usage has a sense of community service. Volunteering is often considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no social gain “to benefit another person, group or organization.”
But what I want to suggest today is that very act of volunteering here at CKI is sacred service. It is avodah. It is, in fact, what G-d desires of us. Sacred service is elevated in some way—because it is the work that is required for the worship of G-d. Sacred service is called Avodat HaKodesh. There is a wonderful book about Jewish liturgy called Service of the Heart by Evelyn Garfiel that covers this transition from sacrifice to prayer.
Ernest Bloch wrote an entire Jewish service called Avodat HaKodesh. The history of that sacred music composition is fascinating:
Sacred service here includes opening the building and turning the lights on. Setting the Torah to the right portion. Being a gabbai. Reading a haftarah. Leading a part of the service. Sacred service can be visiting the sick. Bringing a meal to them. Or blowing shofar for them. Consoling the bereaved. Going to a shiva minyan. Helping to make a minyan. Singing in the choir or with MishMosh. Sacred service can be sharing your unique talent. Teaching in our Torah School or other adults. Sacred service can be volunteering in our kitchen. Baking challah as we are learning through the book, Spiritual Kneading. Preparing other food. Growing other food. Here at CKI or for the hungry. Sacred service can be moving tables and chairs. It can be making sure the heat or the air conditioning is working. It can be vacuuming or steam cleaning the carpets. It can even be taking out the garbage.
Sacred service is a blessing. Just before our portion begins,the verse immediately before where we pick up our reading, is the priestly benediction.
Yiverechecha v’yishmarecha,
May the Holy One bless you and keep you.
Ya’ar Adoani Panav elecha v’chunecha,
May G-d’s face shine light upon you and be gracious to you.
Yisa Adonai panav elecha, v’yasem lecha shalom,
May the Eternal One’s face turn to you and grant you peace.
May G-d smile on you! What a lovely blessing. So sacred service brings us closer to G-d. Sacred service makes us smile.
Here at CKI, we have a number of tasks that you can volunteer for—and most of you in the room do. If you are looking for other ways to volunteer, see Risa, I’m sure she has ideas. However when you choose to volunteer, just like the tribes we are about to read, do it with lovingkindness, do it to draw closer to G-d, do it with a smile. Just do it.