Step Up and Be Counted

One unique aspect of Jewish faith is the access to G-d. According to our tradition, every one of us has the same access to Hashem regardless of our level of righteousness or personal development.

Yes, there are those Tzadikim (righteous ones) who on account of their purity have better language and as such their prayers may have a better chance of being heard, but that doesn’t preclude the simple one or even one who has strayed from having the ability at any time to open a conversation with the Divine.

In that same vein our tradition (in this week’s Torah portion) designates an entire tribe, the tribe of Levi to be set aside in their service of Hashem. This tribe known to us as people who are either Kohen’s or Levi’s (both descended from Levi the son of Jacob our forefather) were responsible for the service in the Mishkan (portable Temple that accompanied the Jews in the desert) and the two Temples in Jerusalem.

Here too, it is not that the Levi tribe has something over everyone else, rather they have been given a certain responsibility. If others want to join the responsibility they have the choice to step up and be counted amongst the Levi’s.

In fact the Rambam (Maimonides) says that anyone who chooses to dedicate themselves to the service of Hashem is also considered a Levi – at least for the spiritual worth.

These days the Corona is challenging our roles in the world. Whatever we thought of ourselves 3 months ago; a dr., lawyer, accountant, rabbi, etc. are all being challenged. Who are we really? What are we really doing here on this earth?

As time goes on we may yearn to be back in our regular job. The challenges of parenting practically full time, the challenges of being a caretaker, the challenges of juggling our regular jobs with our familiar responsibilities are quite challenging. Some days it may feel like we are cracking under the burden. Wishful thinking, if only we could go back to our regular jobs…

But there is a voice that is speaking and it sounds like the Rambam’s… anyone who dedicates themselves to the service of Hashem is also considered a Levi.

Perhaps it’s time to surrender to today’s reality. We are called upon to embrace a new reality and to live it fully. Lean in to your parenting, lean in to your familiar responsibilities, be present.

There will come a time in the not too distant future that we’ll look back at these days. I hope to be able to say, I didn’t miss the opportunity. I hope to be able to see that for just a few months I stepped up to being a loving parent. I hope to be able to say I stepped up to being a Levi.

May Hashem bless all you warriors out there with good health and a blessed Shabbos!

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