Vayakhel: Building Projects that Move the Heart

In a little over a week (yikes!), our synagogue will be putting on a performance of 'Fiddler on the Roof.' Our Ohev Players have worked really, really hard, and we're excited to put the first 'book show' (after
two phenomenal reviews!) on our stage in nearly twenty years. Selfishly, I'd love for you to come see us, because I'm actually IN the show myself, playing the tailor, Motel Kamtzoil. In celebration of our performing 'Fiddler,' and to whet your appetite a little ahead of time, I am also delivering four sermons on this topic, leading up to our shows. Last week, I gave the first of these talks, and if you're interested, you can read the full version of that here. But beyond just shameless self-promotion, I also wanted to write about this on the blog, because it isn't a huge leap at all to connect our show to this week's Torah portion.

In the world of the Talmud, the rabbinic commentaries on the Torah, our Sages talk of different forms of interpretation. First, they talk about p'shat, the straight-forward reading. In our case, the Torah talks this week about the building of the Tabernacle in the desert. We learn about

the painstaking construction of the Ark, the tent, the covers, the lampstand, the poles, the utensils, etc, etc, ETC! So the p'shat connection between our Torah reading and the Fiddler production is the construction work that each project entails. You might have thought a prayer tent in the desert was a simple structure, just as you might have thought an empty stage needs only imagination and a group of actors to perform a musical. And yet, each is so much more detail-oriented and involved. But also, so much more impressive! Wait til you see our set, which includes a wall that all at once depicts the inside of Tevye's and Golde's house; flipped around becomes my (Motel's) tailor shop; and ingeniously folded together also becomes a bed for the infamous dream sequence! Amazing!

But both stories also have a deeper level of understanding, what the rabbis called the d'rash. The p'shat understanding was about two physical projects; the d'rash leads us to realize that both are about time, effort, dedication, and, ultimately, the creation of community. The
Torah tells us, 'everyone whose heart so moves him (or her) shall bring gifts for Adonai' (Exodus, 35:5), and a few verses later adds, 'let all among you who are skilled come and make all that Adonai has commanded' (35:10).

The focus is the project itself, but the invaluable (and somewhat intangible) result is a bonding experience that somehow just develops over the course of working together as a team. Sure, the Israelites were meant to build this worship space, but I also believe God wanted them to do this TOGETHER, to help them bond and solidify the relationships that were already developing. And better they focus on this, rather than last week's project (from the previous Torah portion), the Golden Calf!

One of the things I've always loved about acting, ever since I was a little kid, was the cast bonding that inevitably occurred. And sure enough, the same thing is happening again right now, at Ohev Shalom. The last week before the performance is especially
hectic and stressful, as we all rush to finish building sets, locate props, finalize costumes, and rehearse, rehearse, rehearse... However, it's also a fantastic way to build up a sense of family. Like the Israelites in the desert, the challenge of the project - the detail, the complexity, and the importance of doing this together - is what also makes it all SO worthwhile. And then, next week, standing backstage, mid-performance, hearing the audience hanging on every word, mouthing along with the actors (because we all know every line by now...), and just relishing the excitement and intensity; yeah, that's a heart-moving moment. Our building project is complete!


Photos in this blog post (2-5 courtesy of Allan and Jason Glanzman, our 'unofficial' official Ohev Players photographers):
1. The poster from our show. Come see us perform!!
2. (Some of) our awesome builders! (Rich Kaplan, Allan Glanzman, Dan Stinson, Don Abramowitz, Allan Baron)
3. (Many of) the men of Anatevka. (Rabbi 'Motel' Gerber, David 'Rabbi' Pollack (confusing, I know), Allan 'Yussel' Glanzman, Cantor 'Tevye' Friedrich, Rich 'Avram' Kaplan, David 'Nachum' Cashell, and Don 'Mordcha' Abramowitz)
4. 'I have FIVE daughters!!' (Emily 'Hodel' (and our esteemed director!) Fishman, Laurie 'Tzeitel' Krouse, Suzette 'Chava' Krausen, Willow 'Shprintze' Stern, and Marin 'Bielke' Lent)
5. Our little village of Anatevka.