Recently, the World Trade Center’s new transportation depot opened. A soaring structure, its arms reach out to the heavens. Presented as a bird preparing to fly, many dozens of designers, engineers and architects worked for many months to craft a structure that would be memorable, beautiful and inspirational. Some have held that the structure is beautiful and others have criticized it for its shape and its design.
About 18 months ago Manette and I visited Ground Zero and took the opportunity to experience the Memorial. While waiting to enter, the skeleton of this great bird was before us. I would not say I immediately fell in love with its form. Having looked at the pictures now revealed to us all, I do see its beauty. The goal of these many designers working in tandem is to ‘take’ people ‘somewhere’ while transporting many thousands of individuals to many different locations. Without working collectively, there would be no means of transferring people from point A to point B and sending them aloft as they begin or end their journeys.
In this week’s Torah Portion (Vayakhel) we have a description of the original worship structure built by and for ancient Israel. Great emphasis is given to the collaborative efforts of many people working together. Women and men are described as crafting, weaving, designing, building and beautifying the tabernacle (Mishkan).
Obviously the leader, Betzalel, is credited with much of the work and delegating specific labors and projects to those capable of fulfilling those projects. But, it was a group effort. It was only due the entire community’s investment that everybody could feel that he or she was ‘going somewhere’.
The challenge and the opportunity are still before us, even today. In fact, we are ahead of the ancient Israelites because the structure has already been completed. Instead of focusing on the building let’s all look for the people who comprise the community. How do we all ‘get somewhere together’?
May we each meditate upon helping each other soar over this Shabbat.
Shabbat shalom.
Rabbi Steven Silberman
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