d’var torah
Nadiv Lev: Off erings of the Heart
Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit
I Parshat Terumah
mmediately upon breaking free from
oppression and our birth as a people,
not only clans, we have been commit-
ted to looking at fi nancial resources as
tools for building a sacred community,
refl ecting living values in the very struc-
tures and foundations of communal life.
The fundamental approach to
economic resources from biblical
times onward has been to sustainably
manage available resources and to
demonstrate gratitude and cultivating
an abundance mindset by off ering back
a portion of what we have been graced
with to those in need and the greater
community. Of course, confusion or tension can
also exist between private fi nancial
practices and faith-based congrega-
tional practices or between religious
values and the business aspects of
running a congregation or organization.
Our tradition asks us to put our fi nan-
cial practices through a Jewish values
and practices audit to see how our
actions line up with living a holy life.
Simply attending synagogue, mosque,
church or meeting place does not, in
and of itself, heal this divide. We must
also consider what spiritual insights
might guide and determine our choices
within the sanctuary, and how the
prayers and policies of our congre-
gations contribute to us all living lives
b’tzelem Elohim — in the image of God.
We can benefi t greatly in our commu-
nication and choices about fi nan-
cial matters when we share not only
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balance sheets, but concerns over
income and expenses, deeply held
values and life experience. Avoiding
these discussions — viewing them
as “not related to the bottom line” or
relegating sacred talk or values clarifi -
cation to moments deemed “spiritual”
— contributes to a fi nancial and spiritual
split where we may consider our fi nan-
cial decision-making as unrelated to us
being the best person or community of
faith we can be.
In congregations and Jewish organi-
zations, we are also pulled in a variety
of directions that, on the surface, can
seem in opposition to the very founda-
tions of our endeavor. We are neither
for-profi t “businesses” in the market-
place, nor classic nonprofi ts. I like to
think of our faith-based communities as
“for-prophet enterprises,” sharing the
ultimate goals of manifesting the sacred
values, laws and cultural traditions we
have come to hold dear.
One of the Hebrew words most
known to the world is shalom. The word
shalom (peace, hello, good-bye) comes
from the word shalem (wholeness or
completeness). In a wonderful embod-
iment of a Jewish approach to the
Divine and human intersecting in the
world of practical matters, the word for
paying for an item to take possession of
it became l’shalem.
To obtain something is to create an
exchange that leaves all parties feeling
whole and holy in their comings and
goings with each other. Money used as
a spiritual tool in this way has the poten-
tial to leave everyone resting in a place
of peace, of shalom.
To address realizing our personal and
communal goals, we need to create
a trusting environment for such a
discussion, not unlike the framework of
communal directives and interpersonal
ethical conduct that precedes parshat
Terumah. Conversations about money
in a communal setting can be challeng-
ing because issues of class and money
are tied to issues of self-worth, personal
values and individual choices.
We may have discomfort or even
shame at having too much, too little or
not enough, especially when there has
been little in the way of education and
dialogue about money and religious life.
Through study, eff ective listening and
open discussion of our attitudes and
expectations, however, we can turn
a potentially challenging subject into
a profound opportunity for building
relationships and community.
There has never been any organized
religion that did not need resources
of some kind, expecting its members
to contribute off erings, dues or taxes
to support its institutions. Along with
the personal dimension as described
above, we need to develop workable
congregational systems where funds
are collected, educated and commu-
nicated about and managed in a fair
and just manner that both refl ects our
values and inspires further giving.
Envision how you and your congre-
gation, organization or community’s
actions could be active participants
in this process from a perspective of
community-building, caring and justice
in the world. Financial resources, and
how they are organized and viewed, are
an integral part of realizing this dream.
Terumah (l’harim).
May we strive to bring Your Presence
into the fl ow of our resources.
From our hearts, through our hands .■
Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit serves
as rabbi at Mishkan Shalom and is
co-founder/director of the Davennen
Leader’s Training Institute. The Board
of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia is
proud to provide diverse perspectives
on Torah commentary for the Jewish
Exponent. The opinions expressed in
this column are the author’s own and
do not refl ect the view of the Board of
Rabbis.
calendar
FEBRUARY 24–MARCH 2
a deeper understanding of Jewish
life, from Nov. 2-March 8 at 7-8:30
p.m. No charge for congregants. $180
per device for non-congregants. For
more information, contact Ruth Scott,
director of community engagement:
ruth@kolaminj.org. 1101 Springdale
Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
S UN DAY, F EBR UA RY 26
‘COME IN FROM THE COLD’ CONCERT
TH U RSDAY, M A RC H 2
The Curtis Institute of Music partners with Main Line Reform Temple to bring to Wynnewood an
hour-long concert at 3 p.m. featuring songs by Samuel Barber and a piano quintet by Brahms.
For more information, contact frudnick@mlrt.org or 610-649-7800. 410 Montgomery Ave.,
Wynnewood. aiben edis / AdobeStock
GRATZ CAFE
FRIDAY, F E B . 24
‘SERIOUSLY’ EXHIBIT
The Temple Judea Museum will exhibit
a unique trio of artists: Marlene Adler,
Diane Pieri and Dan Soslowsky. What
joins this disparate group together?
Find out at this exhibit, running through
March 15 and open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, contact
Rita Poley at tjmuseum@
kenesethisrael.org or 215-887-8700.
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park.
PARSHA FOR LIFE
Join Rabbi Alexander Coleman, a
Jewish educator and psychotherapist at
the Institute for Jewish Ethics, at 9 a.m.
for a weekly journey through the Torah
portion with eternal lessons on personal
growth and spirituality. Go to ijethics.
org/weekly-torah-portion.html to
receive the Zoom link and password.
MUSICAL KABBALAT SHABBAT
Join Beth Sholom Congregation’s Rabbi
David Glanzberg-Krainin, Cantor Jacob
Agar and the band at 6 p.m.
for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat.
The community is welcome to attend.
Call 215-887-1342 for information.
8231 Old York Road, Elkins Park.
Sisterhood invites the community to
join our weekly mahjong game at 7
p.m. Cost is $36 per year or free with
MBIEE Sisterhood membership. For
more information, call 215-635-1505
or email office@mbiee.org.
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park.
WEDNE SDAY, MARCH 1
METAPHORS OF THE DIVINE
This series from Congregation Kol
Ami, starting at 10:30 a.m. for two
Wednesdays, is for anyone who is
interested in increasing their awareness
of the sacred. Our tool for discerning
the Divine will be a metaphor. Register
at kolaminj.shulcloud.com/event/
divinepresence. For more information,
contact AdultEd@kolaminj.org or call
856-489-0029. 1101 Springdale Road,
Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM
Sometimes called the “Pledge of
Allegiance” of the Jewish people, Jews
recite the Shema in times of joy as
well as in times of crisis. At this Gratz
Cafe event at 10:30 a.m., Dr. Wachs
will guide a conversation about the
implications of reciting these words
with kavannah (intent, concentration).
For more information, contact
Mindy Cohen at mcohen@gratz.edu
or 215-635-7300, ext. 155.
7605 Old York Road, Melrose Park.
CANASTA GAME
Ohev Shalom of Bucks County
Sisterhood invites the community to
a weekly canasta game from 1-3 p.m.
Open play is $4. Call 215-968-6755 for
more information. 944 Second Street
Pike, Richboro. ■
Introduction to Judaism at
Congregation Kol Ami is a multisession
course for anyone who wants to gain
social announcements
BIRTH FALYN ALIVIA BLESHMAN
Sallie and Michael Bleshman announce the birth of their grand-
daughter Falyn Alivia, born on Feb. 10.
She is the daughter of Dara Courtney Bleshman. Falyn Alivia is
named in loving memory of maternal great-grandparents Frank
and Adele Rakoff .
Aunt Heather, uncle Rich and cousins Justin and Andrew Badt
join in welcoming Falyn Alivia to the family.
Photo by Sallie Bleshman
M ON DAY, F E B . 27
MAHJONG GAME
Melrose B’nai Israel Emanu-El
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 29