LIVE THE DREAM

   In the news media we are constantly reminded of the darkness in our world. Everywhere we turn, someone is trying to tear someone else down. Everywhere we go there is a feeling of inadequacy, or a feeling we are not good enough.  

It is then that we need to bring a certain illuminating light to this world; a light of spirituality; a light of hope; a light of optimism; a light that sees the possibilities; a light that turns the negative into a positive; a light that encourages unstoppable determination.

   This type of Hashkafa, is evident in the first sentence in this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Pekudeh, wherein it states, “אלה פקודי משכן העדות, These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Testimony. The Torah  goes on to describe all the resources that were used to build the Mishkan.

   Many ask, “Why does the sentence begin with the word אלה, “these” the word seems to be superfluous?” The Medrash, gives a very enlightening answer to the use of the word אלה; “The word אלה, reflects on those who sinned with the Golden Calf. When the Jewish People built the עגל, the  same word was used, אלה, as they said, “אלה אלוהיך, These are your gods.” Thus says theMedrash, “We begin with the word אלה, as Hashem was suggesting to עם ישראל, that giving gold to build the Mishkan, would atone for the gold they eagerly gave to build the Golden Calf. “

   The message is clear.  There is nothing wrong with Gold, the problem is what to do with the gold. “Do we build a calf of idolatry or do will we build a edifice glorifying G-D, and ulimately sanctifying our lives.” 

   This is true with all our monetary gains and all of our physical achievements. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the Gold of Life that we have accrued.  The fault is the way we use the Gold of Life  and how we share it with others.

   All the elements in the world can be used for destructive purposes, or we can turn them around and they can become agents of life and bring about the goodness of man.

   This is the lesson of אלה.  It is a lesson of attitude and how we use the Blessings of Hashem. It is saying, that, we are responsible to take the world that was given to us by G-D, in a neutral state and to elevate it into a state of Kedusha. Life is in our hands and the option is up to everyone, how and when we use these G-D given qualities and Blessings.

   There is more to us than we know, if we can be made to see it.  Perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less. We must never limit out positive potentials. We will accomplish much if we honor our values, and honor the objectives that matter most in our lives.  We can do so by learning to prioritize.

Let us never settle for less than what we deserve.

Life can be described as a u-turn.  We can always correct our ways and start over in a more productive fashion, if we, but, desire to do so. 

We can, as the Israelites of old, turn our Golden Calf, into a magnificent, Mishkan/Mikdash, to G-D and to Man.

 

   As we express our pride for the State of Israel’s successful mission launch to the moon on the space craft Bereishit , we remember the words that they sent back to the world “Small Country, Big Dream.”  We interpret this statement to reflect our own personal goals and potentials which are “To Live the Dream”   by pursuing our spiritual aspirations.