Rich And Poor With Equal Access
I had a super quick trip to Israel.
My oldest sister was marrying off her youngest child, and I went to participate in that celebration.
Day 1: Wedding, Day 2: Jerusalem, Day 3: Fly back home.
In Jerusalem, I visited my parents’ gravesites and then went to pray at the Kotel/Western Wall.
As popular as it is for prayer, it is also the ideal place for people watching.
In my short time there, I saw every kind of person, age, stage, background and nationality.
I witnessed an extended family gathering as they celebrated a Bat Mitzvah.
A soldier, on break from Gaza, offering a prayer of gratitude.
A 50 year old South African who was putting Tefillin on for his first time.
A young woman, leaning on the wall, pouring her out in prayer.
A group of middle aged Europeans who had come on a volunteer mission, and a visit to this holy site was included on their itinerary.
And I bumped into my elderly uncle who comes to the Kotel every single day to say the entire book of Psalms.
Every person who showed up had equal access to the wall.
There is no VIP seating when you visit G-d.
This brief experience, encountering all kinds, brought to mind this week’s Torah portion where Moses conveys the instructions about the donations and construction of the Tabernacle.
This structure would preempt the Holy Temple built in Jerusalem, of which the Western Wall stands as its remains.
The Tabernacle, and later the Temple served as the gathering place of all Jews, all background, all times (especially during the holidays) to be with G-d.
Moses gave instructions to donate and everyone gave gold, silver, copper and materials from the generosity of their heart. Those inclined to be generous gave more, while some gave less.
Each man to his own.
Yet, for the contribution to build the foundation sockets, as well as the yearly donation towards the community sacrifice, everyone gave exactly half a shekel. “The rich should not give more, the poor should not give less”.
In this, we are all equals.
There is room for our individual offerings and contributions to society- each man according to his strengths, will and resources.
And yet, in our relationship with G-d, there is a place in which we are all equal. There is no rich and there is no poor. There is no “good” Jew, and no “bad” Jew.
We all stand with equal access before G-d.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom.
