I'm too busy...

One of my favorite things about living in New York is the energy, the feeling that pervades everything we do.  As a person who grew up in the Midwest, New York just feels different.  There’s always so much to do; so much to see.  Broadway plays, the Opera, the Museums, an incredible meal… the world is our oyster.  And New Yorkers never slow down.  We’re constantly moving and going, running from place to place.  Yet, with all on our plate, I often hear these three most dreaded words: “I’m too busy!”  Let’s go to a show: “I’m too busy.”  Let’s grab dinner: “I’m too busy!”  Let’s get together, “I’m too busy!” 

This week’s double Torah portion, Vayakhel-Pikudei, is perfect for the busy New Yorker!  Over the course of five chapters in the Book of Exodus, we have a to-do list to rival any other!  Our ancestors worked together to build the Mishkan, the sacred prayer space that existed in the wilderness.  The Israelites built the furniture for the Mishkan: the lampstand, the altar, the Ark of the Covenant, and the planks for the sides and the doors.  

They wove tapestries of all colors that formed the walls.  And they fashioned the clothing of the Cohenim, the priests of Israel: the headscarf, the pants, the coat, and all of their accoutrement.  This was serious work.  Our ancestors with the help of Betzalel and Oholiab, the chief architects, spent hours upon hours creating this sacred prayer space for the Eternal One.  There was no time to do anything else… they were just “too busy”!

Yet, what I find most inspiring is the first two lines of this week’s Torah portion.  We begin with this address from Moses: “These are the things that the Eternal One has commanded you to do: On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Eternal…”  Prior to sharing this massive to-do list, prior to the doing and making, the creating and designing, Moses reminds the people that they must rest.  You can’t work, work, work without Shabbat.  You can’t keep going, without a moment to pause or a day for renewal.  Even when creating sacred space, our ancestors put down their tools and rested.

This is truly a lesson for our age.  We spend far too much time at work.  We focus much too much of our energy and our thoughts on all that we must accomplish.  It’s almost impossible to unplug; we are tied to the world around us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no real ability to break away.  We are just “too busy!”  Moses reminds us that in order to be our best, we need to turn on the OFF button.  We need one day out of seven, to stop, rest, and refresh.  

The Holy One commanded us to focus on the world around us, to fulfill our responsibility to act and do and work.  Yet, God also commanded us to focus on ourselves, to transform ourselves for the better.  So, let’s work hard, but let’s also take some time to renew ourselves… to unplug, to sleep-in, to study some Torah, and read a book; to spend time with loved ones, to go out to dinner, to see a show, have Shabbat dinner, and to just rest.  Shabbat Shalom!