In this last week’s Torah portion we are introduced to B’stalel the expert artisan who built the Mishkan. God explains the importance of fulfilling the mitzvoth in the most beautiful way. To enhance worship with what we wear or how we adorn it, is a very Jewish concept. I thought it would be interesting tonight to discuss the ritual garb that is most prevalent amongst Jewish worshippers. I will be speaking about, what are a tallit, kippah and t’fillin.

The kippah in Hebrew or yarmulke in Yiddish is a skull cap. It is most often worn in Temple or at other ritual settings, such as a festive meal, wedding, brit millah or funeral. In some Jewish communities it is customary to wear the kippah all the time.

It is unclear where the origin of covering one’s head comes from. There is no blessing associated with it and there are some communities that do not wear kippot at all. It is not halachah or Jewish law it is a custom to wear a kippah. Traditionally men wore kippot and women wore other head coverings. In our sacred books there is mention of showing one’s piety by covering one’s head to show respect for God. Ultimately in our time it is a custom that is followed by those who find it meaningful.

The next ritual garb is the tallit. It says in the Torah “Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves Tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout the ages’

The Rabbis took this to mean that the tzitztit should be put on any four cornered garment. A tallit is to be worn at the morning services. The first time one wears a tallit is at the Bar /Bat Mitzvah service.
In addition to the fact that the wearing of the tzitzit (which is attached to the tallit) is found in the Torah, many people wear tallitote because they feel wrapped in prayer or find it as a way to create sacred space for themselves.

The tefillin or phylacteries consist of two leather boxes containing a hand written parchment of the sh’ma and its blessings. It is wrapped around the forehead and the forearm. The tradition comes from a literal reading of Deuteronomy 6:8 “bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead. ” Rather than take these words as a metaphor rabbinic tradition chose to make it a mitzvah to literally bind these words on the forehead and the arm.

All these ritual objects have the power to transform our religious experience, allowing our external appearance remind us of our internal intentions and attitudes. All of these costumes or uniforms can aid us in our journey to experience the Divine.

Purim was celebrated at TSS with much joy and fun. We read the megillah in Hebrew and English. I chanted  megillat Esther with its special  ancient trope. Meidan read the megillah having the congregation blot out the name of evil Haman every time he is mentioned. We had a festive pizza meal and sang Purim songs. Our Purim Spiel was a retelling of the story in an amusing fashion. Don Belmont was an hilarious Esther, looking quite fetching, sounding like Miss Piggy. I was Haman and Mordecai and Meidan was King Ahasveuros. Karyn Goldner kept us all together as our narrator. Everyone had a wonderful time. Thank you to Lisa Szydlow for organizing the whole evening.

In this week’s Torah portion God tells the Israelites to take a census. Only God can command that a counting of the people be taken. The ancients felt if they were counted without God’s permission they could open themselves up to being harmed. Bad omens and spirits would be aware of them and hurt them. With God’s protection they felt they could be counted. A census occurs a number of times in the Torah. It is important to be counted. We at Temple Shirat Shalom want to know who you are, we want you to be counted on and we want  you to count on us as well.

In another part of this week’s  Torah portion God finds the craftsmen to make the ritual objects of the Israelites. The main artisan is Beztalel, he is a young man of great artistic abilities. God says of him that he is singled out and is endowed with the Divine Spirit of skill, ability and knowledge in every kind of craft. In this Torah portion we are told that artistic abilities is God given and is a great gift. Adding beauty to our ritual objects and to our rituals is a mitzvah, a commandment. Whenever we do anything or make anything  in God’s name we must make every effort to make it as beautiful and perfect as possible. That is why when I teach our children or adults I make everyone strive for “perfection.” We must always make our work in the name of Judaism and God as good  as we can make it.

There are four mitzvot associated with  Purim. They are:

•    give gifts to loved ones, friends and neighbors,
•    make donations to the poor,
•    hear the story of Purim and
•    have a Festive Meal.

We at Temple Shirat Shalom are dedicated to always honoring our tradition. In that end the confirmation class is making Shalach Manot baskets for our senior members and those who have been ill this year. We will be delivering the baskets to them  this week. We are also having a Purim celebration on the night of Purim Wednesday March 7.  We will be eating festive pizza and reading the megillah in a number of ways some “serious” and some amusing. To fulfill the mitzvah of giving donations to the poor I urge everyone to make a donation to the Kosher Food Pantry, of Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley.  We will also accept donations at the event.  Meidan Keidar, JFLV, sh’licha will be helping us make this Purim special. The festivities will begin at the Wescosville Recreation Center at 6:15 PM. Please check our Website for details .

Chag Sameach Purim, have a wonderful Purim holiday!