People that know me when I was 17/18 know that I was really into hating capitalism and learning about marx, communism and socialism. While I still believe that there are many problems in the world caused by powerful people exploiting vulnerable ones (capitalism, lobbying, rich people in power), my views on the root causes and solutions fully changed once I delved into the amazing world of Torah. I used to think that if we fight the state, if we are able to establish a new system in which the economy doesn’t work through exploitation but by working together communally, everyone with their own strengths, the world and society will heal on basically all the levels it needs to be fixed in. If we only fight stronger and more people wake up to the truth of our rotten system, I thought, there will be no more problems.
Parashat Pekudei continues to teach us about the Mishkan; it opens by listing all the donations and it’s donors (pekudei means “amounts of”), culminating in the actual building by moshe and the anointment of the priests – now finally, Hashem’s divine presence (shekhina) comes down through a cloud on top of the Mishkan. The listing of the donations show us, I believe, that the Mishkan was only able to come into being through the deliberate contribution and help of the whole nation which is supported by the fact that it’s actual erection follows right after in the same parasha.
There is something very profound I learned last year when I visited a Kibbutz in Israel. I was introduced into their system and it’s shifts and struggles over the years which tought me that you can not force communal living (or communism) onto people. One has to choose it THEMSELVES or else a system such as communism won’t work. Okkkkk let that sink in. I think that is what we can learn from the Torah; many times the jews failed to fulfill the commandments G-d orders them because they simply don’t have enough faith, are too convinced of their own thoughts and beliefs, etc… Even though the ideas of abolishing exploitation, money, forced/toxic hierarchies and alienation are beautiful and certainly seem like beneficial steps to fixing the world and humanity, you can not force them onto people through a system even though they have no internal desire to be a good person, help out where they can and go above themselves. These needed qualities come only through a deep love for the people around which most people don’t have. Systems such as communism won’t work if we don’t first teach people how to truly love and care – then, we can be sure that everyone will do their part in a functional and reliable way, just as the jews came forth with their donations in such large amounts that it was even too much! This is something schools fail at miserably – putting the value of hard work and complacency above human connection, treating people coldly and only as a means for something. Thank G-d im not in Germany anymore wow !
Let’s fix the world. Let’s do our part always and everywhere we find ourselves, searching for our mission and what we can contribute to bring down G-ds energy into our physical, dark world. Then, we will merit the light of redemption. Let’s not get stuck up in systems and what people tell us to do, square-mindedness but find our own inner drive to do good, to help out where we can.
Let’s make this world a home for G-d – without our teachers telling us to do certain things because we have to but because that is our own inner desire !
SHABBAT SHALOM IM SO HAPPY ITS SHABBESS!!!!!!!