In Ki Tissa, Moses comes down from Mt Sinai and is greeted by the Golden Calf. In anger he smashes the Tablets. God, too, is furious with the Israelites. God wants to destroy His people. Moses once again pleads for our survival. Moses returns to the mountain top. This time the law is made by Moses and God. The original Tablets were made by God.

The Rabbis mused which of the Tablets were better, the first or the second set. They decided the second because it was made in partnership, God and the Jewish people. The lesson we learn from this is that things are better made in partnership. When we collaborate, especially inspired by God, great things happen.

This week’s Torah portion T’tsaveh begins with the commandment to the Israelites to kindle the Tabernacle lights regularly. The Hebrew phrase ‘ner tamid’ refers to a lit lamp. The lamp should not be on perpetually; rather it should be present in the sanctuary all the time. The eternal lights in synagogue sanctuaries are there to remind us of this commandment, to have a lamp always there. In the first and second Temples there was a ner tamid.

There is a saying that “Every Jew must light the ner tamid in their heart”. This is saying that we should always try and be a light to our neighbors, acting morally and honestly. We should be role models act with exemplary behavior. In the Torah it says we should be a “light to the nations”. That is the expectation and we should try and live up to what God expects of us.

In this week’s Torah portion, “The Lord spoke to Moses saying: Tell the Israelite people to bring me gifts, you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart shall move him” (Ex. 25: 1-2). The Torah portion is called T’rumah for the Hebrew word for gifts. God tells the people they have to help build the Mishkan or sanctuary. The Mishkan is the place where all the religious observances will take place. God does not want this holy place to be sullied by those who are not pure of heart and intentions. That is why those gifts given begrudgingly are not to be accepted. It is the same thing with TSS, we cannot make you join, support or donate, all we have is moral persuasion. We want you to be with us, participate and donate time and money. Involvement in Temple life is a blessing, we can offer you the ability to lead a rich Jewish life, please come with a full heart as God commanded.

The laws contained in this week’s Sedrah, Mishpatim, are for the most part civil laws. Civil Laws are the laws regulating everyday life in a “civilized” society. Laws concerning business, property, and family issues are considered civil laws. In our society such laws are part of City, State and Federal Government regulations. In Judaism all these laws are found in the Torah.

The Torah contains laws pertaining to God and the Jewish People as well as law pertaining to human interaction. According to the Torah, how we treat our neighbors is a religious act. To be truly religious we must deal righteously with our friends and neighbors. We must be honest, charitable, treat workers fairly, observe the holidays, as well as pray to God. In fact the great Hillel said that loving our neighbor like ourselves, and doing to others as we would have others do to us, is the most important part of Jewish law.