What were you doing one year ago?
There is no way to briefly sum up the events of the last year, so I won’t even try. Dayeinu. It is enough to say that the past year has been full of change, pain, and frustration along with incredible displays of heroism, commitment, resilience, and Zoom.
When looking back, I remember exactly the steps I was taking in adjusting to a closed shul, cancelled programs, and wondering where I would buy food for Pesach. Naama and I bought whatever Kosher meat Fairway was selling – including a whole turkey and a couple of huge briskets.
Fast forward to today, and we are moving forward. More people are being vaccinated, and there is a sense that, please God, our next major task will be to plan how to reopen and bring people back together again.
It is a vayakhel moment.
“Vayakhel Moshe – Moses convened…” (Shemot 35:1) As the Mishkan project is completed, Moshe summons all the people together. This is an usual activity for Moshe. Usually, Moshe speaks or he teaches. What’s with the bringing together the entire people at this time? Some suggest that the completion of the Mishkan warrants such an audience. Another approach is that this assembly will also introduce some of the major laws of Shabbat. That, too, is worth bringing everyone together.
Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein explains that Moshe and the Jews needed a moment to come together at this time. For Moshe, he has just witnessed people worshipping the Golden Calf. Were these God’s chosen people? He must have been disappointed and disillusioned. For the people, they felt as if they had almost lost Moshe, who was “late” coming down from the mountain. Imagine their state of mind, having gone from slaves to Sinai in the blink of an eye. Moshe was their support, and he seemed to be abandoning them.
This was a critical time for “Vayakhel Moshe,” for Moshe to bring everyone together. There is still plenty of pain, mistrust, and uncertainty, but let’s come together, see each other, hug it out.
We stand at a “vayakhel” moment.
Over the past year, we have been through a lot. We’ve, thank God, also accomplished a lot. Now is the time to announce that we will be coming back together. It will still take time. It won’t be the same. We’ve been through so much - individually and collectively - that it shouldn’t be the same. For now, just making the announcement, just our willingness and readiness to come back together, is a terrific step in the right direction.
