A number of years ago, while serving as the Director of Special Education in a small partly rural school district I was meeting with the parent of a teen with multiple disabilities. We were discussing job training and possible opportunities for on the job experiences. The mom’s biggest concern was that her daughter not be placed in a “menial” job – she shouldn’t be washing dishes or clearing tables or anything similar.
A few weeks later, I was meeting with a colleague to discuss some programs we needed to develop with employers in our area of the county. Our goal was to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities in their home community. In this rural area the businesses consist of farms, small mom and pop restaurants and shops and a few fast food restaurants and gas stations. It was not exactly the “high tech” mecca.
In the midst of our conversation I heard the same attitude that had been shared by the student’s mom . “We don’t want our kids to be dishwashers or to bus tables. They need meaningful jobs.”
I was, and continue to be troubled by this societal decision to identify certain roles as inherently unimportant or menial. This week’s parsha offers us a very different perspective.
In the beginning of this parsha the instruction is given for Aaron and his sons to keep the sacrificial fire going throughout the night. Then, in the morning, the Priest is to dress in his Priestly garments, scoop out the ashes from the altar, then change his clothes and take the ashes to a designated place outside of the camp.
Many commentators interpret this strange ritual of changing clothes in the midst of altar clean-up as a menial job, one that is distinct from priestly work. They see it as a task that was designed to keep Aaron “in touch” with the ordinary men of the camp.
I see it very differently. To me the ritual offers us a message that every job can be seen as distinct, holy and special. The removal of ashes was assigned to the priests, the same individuals who were responsible for ensuring every sacrifice was made correctly and the only individuals permitted in the Holy of Holies. G-d does not see “clean up” as a menial job; rather it is viewed as a sacred job – one worthy of assignment to a community leader, specific clothing and a defined “clean place” for depositing the ashes.
If G-d sees what we would interpret as “messy maintenance work” as holy, shouldn’t we? Where would we be without sanitation workers, waiters and waitresses? If we had no dishwashers in our restaurants we’d be eating at home; without cleaning people,our malls and stores would be uninhabitable.
Yet, all too often we look down upon such roles in life and devalue the people who fill them. What if, instead, we look them in the eyes, recognize them and thank them? Can we change our perception and remember that every individual is doing the holy work of making this world a better place for all to live in?
Louis Armstrong sang it so well, what a wonderful world it would be.
Prior to her position with the Grinspoon Foundation, Iris served as a synagogue educator in Syracuse NY, the Central New York PJ Library Program Coordinator and as a national consultant for PJ Library.
Iris holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education, a master’s degree in Special Education and Reading, and Advanced Certification in School Leadership and Administration. Her experience as a secular educator and educational leader in congregational and community settings spans over 20 years. She is also a lay leader in Jewish organizations on the local and national levels. Iris served as the President of CAJE – the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, which was the largest member organization for Jewish educators in the country.
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