The Bible Code.

No, not the secret number pattern. Or a special message from aliens. But a way of talking about current events.

For example, today our synagogue met over the internet. We shared this week’s Torah reading. A story of a great community art project: the travelling wilderness tabernacle. Leader Moses sees its design in a vision. Then, he hires lead artists. Talks up the project. Calls for donations. And finally everyone steps up! Everyone!

So, I thought about the COVID-19 pandemic. Our project in Canada is to “flatten the curve.” And thus decrease the number of infected people. But it can only work if everyone steps up. If the federal government protects us with economic, trade, and travel policies. And if the provinces focus on health care. While cities support the vulnerable––homeless people, for example, and renters who are out of work. And, finally, if every person helps. Keeps a social distance. Buys only what they need. Shares money, hope, and smiles with each other.

Our Canadian leaders give us clear information. As best they can, anyway. Daily briefings, scientific and sensible. Consistent messages and constant reminders. This reminds me of Moses, too. Because he talks a lot about the tabernacle project. First, he describes the materials. Next, he explains how they’ll be crafted. Then, he narrates the work in progress. Finally, he catalogues what has been done.

Why say almost the same thing four times? Because if you want everyone to participate, you have to explain it over and over again. Consistently and constantly.

We also read from the Prophet Ezekiel. About his vision of leadership. Ideally, the leader will show care for the people. Step forward first to perform cultural rituals. Share wealth by feeding the people. And, finally, take responsibility for their own misdeeds. And for the people’s, too.

Next week, we’ll read about the complete system of offerings. Including the purification offering for leaders. Because sometimes leaders make terrible mistakes. Out of ignorance, inattention, or malice. And then these mistakes affect everyone. So, the leader must take responsibility. At least symbolically. And, in a public ritual, seek forgiveness.

So, I thought about leaders. Specific ones. For example, the Prime Minister of Canada. His wife, who was sick, tested positive for COVID-19. So he went into social isolation. He even addressed the nation from the front steps of his home. And I contrasted him with other leaders. For example, one who told his nation, “I don’t take responsibility at all.”

And thus I find myself using the Bible to talk about current events. As if it’s literally about those events––just written in a kind of code. Weaving walls for a tent of worship? That’s really about setting up social distance, the invisible walls of a tent of healing. Moses and his regular briefings? Instruction by example for political leaders.

It’s important, I think to have these kinds of codes. Especially for marginalized minority groups. They need to talk safely together about their concerns. If they share a code, then they can do it.

But I know there’s a shadow side to these codes, too. They can stir up strong negative feelings. And thus lead to violence. Also, hostile folk can learn the codes. They can mislead a group; even undermine it, too.

Still, I’ve been thinking about this since Purim. (See my post about how midrash reads Vashti. She’s code for the Roman Empire.) On Purim, we read the Book of Esther. A story of the rise and fall of a genocidal enemy. We read it in community. And each community also puts on a Purim spiel (play). The play is never a literal performance of the Book of Esther. Somehow, it imports the story into our present time. Maybe it features modern political figures in place of the King, Queens, and courtiers. Or contemporary jokes, pop music, and timely costumes.

But how can Jews get away with such bold talk? What if authorities overhear it? If it’s Purim, they will never know who said what. Because everyone is in costume! And they can’t hold speakers accountable, either. Because everyone is drunk. It’s the custom, you know. To get too drunk to know the difference between a hero and a villain. Did you hear them call the president a villain? Clearly, they meant the president is a hero.

So, maybe you’ll be willing to watch a three minute video. It shows me, singing in a Purim spiel. The song is about the most violent part of the Book of Esther. Thus, the words express discomfort with violence. But they also express relief and, finally, joy. Some friends wrote the words this year, and set them to a famous hit song from 1969.

And, speaking of current events. Purim was the last festive gathering before our lockdown began. A sweet memory!

Learned friends: You will recognize many technical ideas at play. Midrash; metaphor; allegory; hermeneutics; speech code; epistemology of power; resistance; political rituals of different regimes, etc.