The Human Need to Give - Parshat  Vayakhel-Pekudei 

Is altruism dead? There are many cynics who might even say altruism never existed. People only give for their own neurotic needs, they might say.

In Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei, the people of Israel were first asked to contribute to the building of the tabernacle, and then, when the contributions were so plentiful, they were prevented from bringing more.1 Rabbi Jacob Mecklenburg points out in his commentary that they were interested and prepared to bring more but were prevented from bringing more - against their will! "It was a praiseworthy deed noting their love of the commandment to contribute". Wanting to give is so strong a part of us that a simple request to stop giving would not have been enough. They needed to be ordered down and then they would comply. They were happy to give.

Altruism was present in humans as much 3300 years ago, during the building of the tabernacle, as it is today - precisely because it is a human attribute to want to give.

I am presently attending the First International Congress of Logotherapy in Israel this week and there have been a number of presentations of empirical research showing that altruism is a basic, healthy, human attribute and is alive and well even in this highly advanced technological age (Evans, Langridge, Russo-Netzer).

This attribute is part of the beautiful human mosaic of attributes that constitutes that noetic part of our being. Responsibility, ambition, appreciation, nobility, humility, and altruism are all positive attributes we have and we choose if and when to use them.

Altruism, in being other-oriented, is therefore one of the most human of attributes as the great sage Hillel wrote "If I am only for myself, what am I?"2 Our ability to be concerned with and offer assistance to others is our human existence at its highest level and is the epitome of the fulfillment of our humanity.

Although the focus of this Torah portion is the community building of the tabernacle, the principle applies to interpersonal relations as well.

How we use altruism when confronted with a particular situation is part of our freedom to choose how we respond to the meaning of the moment and what shapes us as people - what kind of person we are now vis-à-vis the person we wish to become. Do we see ourselves as other-oriented or only self-oriented? Is self-actualization through self-enhancement our primary goal or do we see giving to others possibly as part of our self-actualization?

Altruism is part of who we are. Let us choose to live that life which includes an orientation to helping others.

 

1. Shemot 36:6

2. Avot 1:14

3. A Logotherapeutic concept

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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