HEArtbeat

HEArtbeat:

Hiddur Mitzvah - Enhancing the Sacred with Beauty

In this week’s double parasha, Vayakhel-Pekudei, we learn about the elaborate craftsmanship of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. From its colorful clasped curtains to its gold-inlaid wooden ark, the Mishkan is as beautiful as it is functional, and the Torah spares no detail of its ornate design. 

The Mishkan built before our eyes this week is a striking example of the Jewish principle of hiddur mitzvah, or the beautification of sacred rituals. Our tradition encourages us to enhance our observance of the mitzvot through artistic touches, like using beautiful Judaica for celebrating Shabbat or adding our own flair in decorating a sukkah. 

For those of you who know my role as Ritual Coordinator at HEA, you can probably guess where I am going here: the art of reading Torah and other biblical passages is also hiddur mitzvah. A core reason that we musically chant the public readings of our most sacred texts – rather than simply say them in a reading voice – is to elevate this ritual experience. Ba’alei K’riyah, or Torah readers, provide a service to the HEA community by bringing beauty to the mitzvah of Torah learning. I wish a hearty yasher koach to all of our current readers, and invite any of you who are interested in learning to read Torah to take my next Introduction to Torah Trope class, to be offered next in Fall or Winter 2023, or reach out to me to begin leyning sooner.

Shabbat Shalom