by Rabbi Shlomo Segal
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
This d’var Torah is part of Rabbi Segal’s podcast series. To listen to this podcasts in the future please find it in the Segal’s Sentiments archive here.
I wish to dedicate this edition of “Segal’s sentiments” to the memory of my father, Moshe Segal whose yahrzeit will take place this coming Shabbat, Parshat Terumah. My Father had some very good qualities. One noteworthy quality was his emphasis on creating a realm of privacy. Interestingly the Torah portion imparts this idea to us. As we read about the plans to construct the Mishkan, a portable Sanctuary, which the Jewish people carried through the wilderness, we are instructed to make curtains separating the Holy of Holies known as the Kodesh Kadoshim, where Gods presence dwelled from the holy place outside it. (Exodus 26:31-35)
There is a very important message here. Curtains represent privacy and separation, values which ultimately create opportunities for achieving the highest level of holiness.
Trends in American Pop culture run contrary to this principle. Many of us have no qualms about disseminating inappropriate information about ourselves in public forums. Many people dress in clothing which exposes parts of the body which have traditionally been covered up and finally we have a strong desire to know everyone else’s information. We want the scoop or the dirt on others, especially those who we might feel slighted by or who may not share our opinion.
Knowing people’s innermost secrets might feel empowering, it makes us feel as if we have an upper hand in some way. After all, that’s how tabloids stay in business! There is a blessing recited whenever one sees a very large crowd of people. “Baruch ata Hashem, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, chacham harazim” which means, “blessed are you, our God…..knower of secrets.” (Berachot 58a)
Essentially it is up to God to know the unique thoughts and secrets of other people and it is up to us to create a realm of privacy by acting more modestly in our own lives and respecting the privacy of others. And if we can accomplish this we will certainly pave the way to creating the highest level of holiness in the world and building a Mishkan, a Sactuary within each of our hearts.
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Rabbi Shlomo Segal is a member of the UTJ’s Panel of Halakhic Inquiry, which issues religious responses on behalf of the organization on contemporary issues, and vice president of Morashah, the rabbinic arm of UTJ.
Rabbi Segal is also a member of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) and the New York Board of Rabbis.
In fall 2013, after a decade of pulpit experience, Rabbi Segal founded Kehilat Moshe, a liberal Orthodox congregation in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, NY. While still a new congregation, Kehilat Moshe has emerged as a diverse, multi-generational caring and intellectually stimulating community rooted in both pluralism and halakhah.
Rabbi Segal delivers a weekly commentary which you can find at kehilatmoshe.org and on YouTube. He was also interviewed on National Public Radio on the subject of “Swinging Chicken Ritual Divides Orthodox Jews”.