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Call me a purist, but I personally preferred the days before sports stadiums had corporate names. Names were supposed to tell us about the history and tradition of the team by referencing those who labored on its behalf. Consider Alabama’s Bryant Denny Stadium, named after a university president (George Denney, 1912-1932) and legendary coach “Bear” Bryant who each, in his own way, contributed to the university’s development. This is sadly not the norm in the corporate world of the NFL.
Our Sages tell us that names of those who labor hardest are often overlooked. In last week’s double portion, Vayakhel- Pekudei, which concluded the book of Exodus, the phrase “Moses did as G-d commanded” appears numerous times. Meaning, in other words, that Moses did all the work, and got none of the credit, his name unmentioned within the space of the Tabernacle. But at the outset of this week’s portion, Vayikra, which opens the book of Leviticus, Moses is “called” (vayikra) by G-d, an apparent allusion to the fact that Moses needs to share in the credit for the Tabernacle. In the sixth century CE midrash Vayikra Rabbah, we read:
- “And He called to Moses,” (Leviticus 1:1) What does the Torah state above (i.e., in last week’s reading) regarding the portion of the Tabernacle? “As G-d commanded Moses.” A parable – this may be compared to a king (G-d) who commanded his servant (Moses) and said to him, "Build me a palace." For every single thing that he built, he would write the name of the king on it. He would build walls and write on them the name of the king. He would set up pillars and write the name of the king on them. He put in place the beams, and he would write on them the name of the king.
- Later, the king entered the palace, and every single thing He looked at He would find His name written on it. He said, “All this honor my slave did for me and I am on the inside and he is on the outside.” He called the servant to enter inside. So when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “Make me a tabernacle," for every single thing Moses would do, he would write about it, “As G-d commanded Moses.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “All this honor has been done to me by Moses and I am on the inside and he is on the outside.” G-d called him to enter inside the palace (= Tabernacle). Thus the Torah states, “And G-d called to Moses.” (Leviticus 1:1)
And remember – if Moses is compared to Coach Bryant, he’s in good company.
- Rabbi Scott Hoffman
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