In Chapter 29 we read about the inauguration ritual that
Moshe performed on the Kohanim to install them into their new status. Part of
that ritual included a rather peculiar element (29:20):
“You shall slaughter
the ram, take [some] of its blood and put it upon the cartilage of Aaron's
right ear and upon the cartilage of Aaron's sons' right ears, upon the thumbs
of their right hands, and upon the big toes of their right feet, and you shall
sprinkle the blood upon the altar all around.”
Why is blood sprinkled specifically on the Kohen’s ear,
thumb and big toe? Perhaps this ritual is meant to teach us three important
qualities that a Kohen must have to serve and lead effectively. The ear is
singled out because a Kohen must be a good listener. The thumb is highlighted
because a Kohen must be willing to act decisively. The big toe is mentioned
because a Kohen must stand up and lead.
This week I attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in
Washington DC along with close to 60 members of the Young Israel of Hollywood –
Ft. Lauderdale community. It was great to see a number of our high school and
college students in attendance. The theme of this year’s convention was “Today.
Tomorrow. Together.” The conference organizers wanted to highlight the strength
of the US-Israel relationship in the past, present and future. They also wanted
to highlight the bipartisan and broad based support for Israel that exists in
the US Congress as well as American society. Though there are individual
members of Congress who are against foreign aid to Israel, and others who have
expressed anti-Israel sentiment (including support for the Boycott Divest and
Sanctions movement), on display at the Policy Conference is the diversity of people
who are passionate about the US-Israel alliance.
When it comes to supporting Israel and the US-Israel
relationship, we should focus on the qualities that were important for the
Kohanim to possess in their leadership role. First we must be willing to
listen. One of my favorite aspects of Policy Conference is the opportunity
to hear from people that think differently than I do and hold views very
different than mine, and yet they are passionate about the work of AIPAC and
the US-Israel relationship, just like me. Too often in our lives we live in
echo chambers. We listen to the news and read the papers that are slanted to
agree with our worldview. Just as the Kohanim had to listen in order to lead,
so too we must listen in order to learn and grow the movement of pro-Israel
Americans.
Second we must be willing to act. Whether it is
lobbying our elected officials on Capitol Hill, calling/ e-mailing our
representatives or supporting pro-Israel candidates, we must act in accordance
with our beliefs and our ideals.
Third, we must be willing to stand up for what we
believe. The big toe provides us with balance. We must be firm in our
convictions and willing to stand up and share our views on the importance of
the US-Israel relationship; to those who are uninformed as well as to those who
currently disagree with us.
Just as the Kohanim were installed into their service
through their ears, hands and feet, so too we must listen, act and stand up in
our roles as pro-Israel activists.
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