In our first aliyah we move from a Moses who has come down from the mountain his face glowing and bringing a gentler approach to spiritual leadership. The people are asked for voluntary contributions to building the mishkan, holy place where-in God connection can build.

A request is made for donations from people who are "khakham lev" wise of heart.

This aliyah is for people who see themselves as the voluntary builders of the Judaism of the future, who hope we are "khakham lev" wise of heart in our recovery of Judaism as a spiritual practice.

2. Exodus 38:30-33. We read in this section of the glorious garments of the high priest....from linen undergarments to robes embroider with pomegranates and bells on the hem. He wears an ephod garment and jewel studded breast plate. He wears a turban and in the verses we will need for our second aliyah, we also see that he wears a pure gold head ornament with the words "Holy to God" etched into it. The turban is attached with threads of sky blue yarn.

This aliyah is for people who have had an assault on their value levied upon them....whether in your family of origin where you were too often faulted or blamed or found wanting; or someone left being in relationship with you citing faults and inadequacies; or your talents or abilities were questioned and the sense of tarnish or damage and unfairness and pain is still lodged even slightly inside.

Today we are the priests for each other. This is the aliyah to proclaim yourself whole in who you are, holy to God, as special and important in the eyes of creation as any human being.

(At the end of the aliyah, when the service leader makes the mishehbeirakh, give a strand of sky-blue thread for each person who came up as a reminder of this ritual of transition.)

3. Number 19: 1-22 Contact with death is transformation. The first time I performed a taharah, ritual preparation of a dead soul’s body I could not shake off numerous difficult feelings ranging from awe to spiritual contamination. A ritual was needed to transition from the mitzvah to daily life. Our ancient ancestors had the ritual of this Shabbat, Shabbat Parah. They would collect the ashes from the sacrifice of the rare, rare red heifer and mix it with water for a purification ritual for those who had come into contact with death. All familiar with Torah understand that this aliyah stops one sentence short of the death of Miriam...the echo of how hard it must have been to bear being in the presence of her corpse is present in this ritual.

This aliyah is for those who can feel the memories of their contact with death....this might be one of us who passed a fatal car accident, those who in performing the mitzvah of bikkur cholim in hospital or hospice visits come into contact with those who have died, those of us who actually watched a loved one die or entered the room with their corpse.......this is an aliyah for those marked by such memories who wish to honor the effect of such powerful times on one’s soul. This is a little-spoken ritual of our people. (At end of aliyah groups so inclined, one could offer to mark each person with a dab of red powder (rouge)).

Return to Main Menu    Return to Torah Menu