Numbers 3:8

וְשָׁמְר֗וּ אֶֽת־כׇּל־כְּלֵי֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְאֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃

They shall guard all of the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, the keepsake of the children of Israel, to do the work of the Tabernacle.

This verse, referring to the unique responsibility of the Levites, seems unfair. The Tabernacle is owned by all the Israelites – every tribe contributed to its construction, and all are responsible for its welfare. The buck stops, however, with the Levites. Is it really fair that they are personally held responsible for safeguarding the tabernacle, when it is actually a communal responsibility?

The Levites are in a unique position to do the holy task of looking after this holy hardware. Unlike other Israelites, they are permitted to draw close to the components of the tabernacle. They rebuild the tabernacle after a journey has been made, carry it in pieces when it’s on the move, and prepare the Priests for the sacrificial offerings. While this seems like a great spiritual benefit, it is a major liability. The Israelites get the credit for the successful operation of the Tabernacle, without having to care for its components. If something  goes wrong, well then it’s the Levites who are held accountable.

While we no longer share a Tabernacle, we still share responsibility for the welfare of our community. Feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, welcoming the stranger – these are our communal obligations. Serving on the board, greeting at services, writing a grant for the benefit of the synagogue- these are also communal obligations. In practice, these shared responsibilities are  carried out by remarkable individuals who step forward on behalf of the community. When someone fulfills one of these communal mitzvot, from balancing the shul budget to visiting a friend in the hospital, they are not performing a mitzvah only for themselves. They become our modern Levites: personally taking on the responsibility of the shared and sacred obligations that sustain and strengthen a holy community.Understanding that this is our story, that we are part of it and still writing it, that we are still learning its lessons and growing from it is the ultimate purpose.