This week’s Torah reading continues the assignment of roles for all the different sub-groups of the Tribe of Levi. It represents an ideal – one in which every person and group received a special and sacred role.
The reality of the Levites’ existence during the First Temple Period, before 586 BCE, was much more difficult. Besides those with connections to the Temple hierarchy, most had no real role in Ancient Israelite society
Today we struggle with trying to help people find and secure a sustainable role for the individual and for our communities.
All of us have a role to play in the continued good of society, and yet helping everyone find a job that provides a reasonable living and contributes to the general welfare isn’t easy and may be the greatest crisis of our time.
Jewish wisdom demands that we aim for lofty ideals and work with realities. As we continue to strive forward through these troubled times I hope that all of us will creatively work together to find solutions for ourselves, our communities, and society as a whole.