Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 26 Adar, 5785

The work is done. It is time to begin to move. To shift. We are moving towards the new moon. It is time to set some intents for the new cycle, and the new month.

Let’s talk about creativity.

I mentioned a year ago – Lego. Is building a Lego set according to the directions creative? Or is it just following directions?

If I choose a lego set – and it’s a car. And I want to build a car? Is it better for me to build the car according to the plans on the directions? Or is it better for me to just wing it – and figure it out as I go?

This is a fundamental question to ask ourselves.

Do we want things to be easy or hard? Which is more valuable? Do we find following directions satisfying or boring?

Do we find taking the pieces we are given – and putting it together however we want more satisfying?

We live in a paradox.  We want creativity – and we want stability. We want to fly and yet remain grounded. We want abundance and not complacency.

How we navigate this? Moment by moment. Seeing the pieces we’ve been given to put together in a moment – and instead of being upset we can’t find a certain piece to our lives? We play with and put together the pieces we have in front of us.

And the truth? In any one moment? We only have a few pieces to put together. The struggle? We remember the pieces we USED to have and are dissatisfied with the pieces we WISH we had but don’t.

And all we are called to do? Like the Children of Israel? Like Bazalel? Put the pieces together according to Moses’ directions.

Will we choose that? Or will we remain dissatisfied because we don’t believe we have the right pieces?

What are your thoughts?

Here’s my thoughts from last year:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 3 Adar II, 5784
Parsha Pekudei: (Exodus 38:21 – 40:38)
Fourth Portion: Exodus 39:33 – 39:43

Good morning! As we are now more than halfway finished this final Parsha of Exodus, we are shifting towards movement. As this story has been all about being in Slavery, and the process of freedom and liberation. And the process of wandering in the wilderness, we are coming to the end. They have been given the direction while in the wilderness. The direction was given to lead them FULLY to freedom. The Torah is not designed for oppression and control. It’s seen that way for sure. But it’s designed to guide us to liberation.  Let’s see where we go from here:

33Now they brought the Mishkan to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings its clasps, its planks, its bars, its pillars and its sockets,

The question is WHY? Why did they do this? The belief according to Rashi (an ancient commentator on the Torah)  was that the beams were too heavy.  Let’s keep going:

34the covering of rams’ skins dyed red, the covering of tachash skins, and the screening dividing curtain,

35the Ark of the Testimony and its poles and the ark cover,

36the table, all its implements and the showbread,

37the pure menorah, its lamps, the lamps to be set in order and all its implements, and the oil for the lighting,

38the golden altar, the anointing oil and the incense, and the screen of the entrance to the tent,

39the copper altar and its copper grating, its poles and all its implements, the washstand and its base,

40the hangings of the courtyard, its pillars and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and its pegs, and all the implements for the service of the Mishkan, of the Tent of Meeting,

41the meshwork garments for the service in the Holy, the holy garments for Aaron the Kohen [Gadol] and his sons’ garments for serving [as kohanim].

42In accordance with all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel do all the work.

43Moses saw the entire work, and lo! they had done it-as the Lord had commanded, so had they done. So Moses blessed them.

The idea here is upon completion, when given a task, the people did the task as Hashem and Moses had instructed. They did NOT get creative with the directions.

I am reflecting on this. And thinking about the idea of creativity and co-creation. And Lego.

I love Lego. I have always loved Lego. And it is interesting. How I play with Lego, and how my kids play with Lego? Very different.

The people who make Lego have a design in mind. They provide DETAILED instructions. When I purchase my Lego set, and I build Lego, I am indeed creating. I am co-creating with the makers of Lego, the set as it is DESIGNED.

Do I feel OBLIGATED to follow the directions? Or do I DESIRE to follow the directions? Wouldn’t it be MORE creative to take the set and just build what I want?

And I reflect on that. The designer gives me the materials. Has a way they see those pieces coming together. I CHOSE the design in the store of what I wanted to build. I could have chosen a DIFFERENT design.  I have sovereignty. I have freedom. And when I get the set home? I am SUPER excited to build the set I have chosen. I am co-creating – like Bezalel – the master weaver – and I am a master builder – building the set as it was designed. 

And when I am done? I will measure my success based on whether what I did MATCHES the picture on the box.

And. The box has OTHER ways the set can be put together usually, doesn’t it?

I don’t feel OBLIGATED to put the set together the way it was designed. I DESIRE to put the set together the way it was designed.

Do we JUDGE the creativity it takes to put together a Lego set? Is it MORE or LESS creative to put the set together the way it was designed? What is CREATIVITY? These are questions today’s portion has me thinking about.

What about you?