Sedra of the Week: Behalotecha
Rabbi Boruch Boudilovsky looks ahead to this week's portion of the Torah
When detailing the functions of the biblical trumpets, our parsha carefully distinguishes between a congregation and an encampment. “Make for yourself two silver trumpets of hammered work; and they shall be to summon the congregation and for causing the encampments to set forth.” (Numbers 10:2) What is the difference between an encampment and a congregation, or in more relevant terms, community?
Rabbi Joseph B Soloveitchik suggests an encampment is a gathering designed to provide comfort, strength, or self-defence. When
emperor penguins huddle together for warmth in the harsh Antarctic winter, or when buffalo gather together for protection against a potential predator, an encampment is formed.
Similarly, when people gather together under a bus stop seeking shelter from rain, or when an ancient society lives together surrounded by high walls for protection, encampments have been forged.
Indeed, in a different verse, the Torah uses the word “encampment” in the context of preparation for battle: “When an encampment goes out to face your enemies” (Deut. 23:10).
A community, however, is a collection of individuals with a common future and shared aspirations. Unlike an encampment motivated by fear,
a community is driven by ideas, a sense of mission and a common goal shaped by a shared past.
Our nation, summoned and moved by the biblical trumpets, served both as an encampment and as a community. The nation was an encampment of ex-slaves wondering in the wilderness and staying together for survival.
Additionally, the nation was an evolving community of free people journeying together to the promised land with new dreams.
As modern Jewish communities, we function in these same two capacities. Like an encampment, we come together for comfort, to belong and to share our experiences. We also collectively embody a set of values designed to guide our lives, inspire our choices and direct our nation.
- Rabbi Boudilovsky serves Young Israel of North Netanya
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
