Parashat Ma'asei:You can't do everything -- but you need to do SOMETHING

This week’s Torah portion is Ma'asei.  It concludes the fourth book of the Torah, Numbers.  There are two issues which might help up frame our congregation's priorities, assisted with a quote from Pirkei Avot.

First the quote from Pirkei Avot:  In chapter two, verse 21, Rabbi Tarfon used to say: lo aleycha homlacha ligmor, v’lo atah ben chorin l’vatel mimenna … You are not obliged to finish the task neither are you free to neglect it.

Now to the two points laid out in this week’s Torah portion.  In Chapter 34 of Numbers, God speaks to Moses and lays out the boundaries of the Land of Canaan, and where the Israelites will settle. Without context, we just take in this information at face value.  But remember, Moses has already been told by God that he is not going to get there.  So one could imagine that from Moses’ point-of-view, why should he care?  He is not going to get to enjoy the fruits of his labor.  BUT MOSES DOES CARE.  He did not begin the process of leaving Canaan and coming down to Egypt.  That was Joseph’s story.  He will not be involved in conquering the land of Canaan, that will be Joshua’s story, and King David’s story, and King Solomon’s story.  Moses knows he is part of a larger narrative, but he must do his part.  Like running a relay race, the baton was passed from former generations to Moses, he got 120 years to run with it, and then he will pass on the baton to the next generation.

We are no different.  No one reading this blog was involved in establishing this Conservative synagogue in Wilmington back in 1923, as an option to the already established Orthodox and Reform synagogues in Wilmington.  Very few if any congregants were involved in the decision to move our synagogue from Washington and 18^th Streets, and erecting a new and improved synagogue at 18^th and

Baynard Blvd.

, back in the early 50’s.  We are the generation of congregants who received the baton 50 years later, to revive and restore both the physical building, and more importantly, the congregation it houses.  We are responsible for retiring our Capital Campaign debt, to create an endowment for the future, to put the synagogue operational budget on a secure footing, to create a way forward with future Board leadership through outreach, and to maintain and grow our membership, with great religious, educational and social programs.  Like Moses, or even like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who in 1968 would quote Moses, we may not see the Promised Land, just as the people who started Beth Shalom back in 1923 could not have imagined this beautiful, environmentally friendly, barrier-free, welcoming building which we have remodeled and built.  But just as Moses did his part, we must do our part, to ensure this synagogue for our children and our children’s children.  Or as Rabbi Tarphon said: “you are not obliged to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it.

Finally, lest we become overwhelmed with our task in this year and the years to come, let us remember the beginning of this week’s Torah portion. In Chapter 33 of Numbers, God takes us on a review of all the places, all the stages, we passed through in the past 40 years, from our fleeing from Egyptian slavery to this moment, on the east bank of the Jordan River, overlooking the Promised Land.  It is important for God to remind the people of everything they have already accomplished, all the challenges they already successfully faced and overcame, to get to this moment.  So, too, as we support our Capital Completion Campaign in retiring a three million dollar debt and deal with all the financial, membership and programmatic challenges which lie in front of us, it is essential that we take stock in everything each of has already accomplished in getting to this point, and taking pleasure in all the things that are working well for us.  What we need is perspective, and this Torah portion shows us the way.  We have signed contracts for our Cantor and our Rabbi, in a year that is going to be full of bnei mitzvah, our busiest bnei mitzvah year in decades, owing to the real growth and generational turn-over in this congregation, with an ever-younger demographic boding for a nice long future for this synagogue.  We just signed a new contract with our Education Director, ensuring continuity as our Hebrew School constantly grows and adapts to meet the ever-changing needs of our families.  Our custodial staff, directed by our Executive Director, continue to care for and maintain the beauty of our synagogue building, including this week’s painting and interior touch up to interior surfaces.  Our Accountant is diligent and our front office staff is professional and welcoming.  We have an ambitious financial plan, guided by one of the foremost economic planners at T.Rowe Price.

I could go on, but like the Torah portion, there is so much we have already accomplished. So rather than be intimidated by the task ahead, let us find strength in all the places we have already been, and let us use these experiences to reach our Promised Land.