Do we count more as individuals or as part of a group?
On the one hand, when each of us is on our own, our vision and message is very clear and focused: “This is what I am, and this is my product.” Yet, we may each wonder, “If I am on my own, will anyone even hear my voice? Will my individual perspective be drowned out?” On the other hand, we are certain that by being part of a group, our collective voice and reach is much greater.
So, the question becomes: Is it possible to be an individual and be part of a group at the same time?
The answer is yes, as we see in this week’s Torah readings. This week we read a double portion, Vayakhel and Pekudei, which recount the building of the Tabernacle and its vessels. Vayakhel means gathering, as where parts of something are gathered to become the whole. And Pekudie means counting, as where every individual contribution is recognized on its own.
Only when the individual parts come together as one under one roof as part of one Tabernacle does the uniqueness of each individual article come to light.
The individual item, with its own unique quality and purpose, gets placed in the larger context of the Tabernacle, and only then does the distinctive quality of the vessel come to light.
We can see this on the very popular website, Etsy.com, or similar sites. Etsy is a marketplace made up of individual artists and crafters showcasing their own unique items, celebrating their art and talent. They come together at one site, not to lose their distinctive creativity, but just the opposite, to celebrate it. The site gives a home not to squash individuality, but to celebrate each and every artist.
The same is true of the Jewish people. On our own we are special, but when we are together, we shine!