This week we read Parshat Terumah which deals with the special offering that our ancestors brought to the portable Tabernacle that they carried with them in the Wilderness after receiving the 10 Commandments.
I want to discuss two items that I find to be somewhat related to the discussion about the gifts that our ancestors brought to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
First of all (and you know I am a Law and Order devotee), I recently watched an episode where a teenager committed a crime because she was on medication to keep her awake so she could study more because she was under pressure at her school and among her friends to be the best. I wonder how many of us struggle with frustration or even depression because we do not perceive ourselves as the best. We live in an area of the country where winning is very important because if you win you are in office and if you lose, you move out of town (at least in the political world).
I am afraid that we live in a culture where we feel that if we aren’t the best that we are somehow second rate. This week’s portion teaches us that all of our gifts are important and that each one of us has a unique gift to share. Our unique gifts do not require us to be the best…rather they encourage us to find something meaningful to us and build upon that. Once we find something about which we care, we should pursue this and bring our special “terumah” or offering in order to make our corner of the universe a bit better. We don’t need to be the best…we shouldn’t compare our gifts with others…we should be happy we have something to share and realize that each of us has something to contribute to our world.
Secondly, I have been intrigued by the ongoing discussion about the NCAA one and done rule where a student goes to college for one year to play basketball and be a student and then can go to the NBA. On Mike and Mike( a sports talk show in the morning), a number of key people were interviewed who discussed whether a student who goes to college to play basketball for one year with the intent of going to the NBA is really getting any education or whether this is just a way for them to fulfill the requirement of one year at college in order to try to play professional basketball.
I am concerned that in certain ways, athletes are being exploited because of their gift to be able to play basketball. How many of us take advantage of the gifts of others and try to use them for our benefit without realizing what we are doing to the giver? We may take advantage of a good friend, a friendly or generous teacher, a caring roommate, or a super athlete…
As always, I am eager to either of these issues with you. Don’t hesitate to contact me by e-mail or by phone (703-407-7690). One of these days I will actually get better at Facebook but for now, e-mail and phone work for me.
This week, I will be at Starbucks on Monday night at 7:30pm to talk about Choosing Judaism: Do I Really Think I Want to Convert to Judaism. I also look forward to seeing you on Thursday night this week for the special Israel program which will be advertised separately.
Have a good week.
Rabbi Bruce
baft@gmu.edu