Parshat Tzav
Near the end of the parsha we see Moshe giving Aharon his instructions regarding the preparatory week before the dedication of the mishkan.
In 8:33 Moshe tells Aharon not to leave the Ohel Moed for the full 7 days.
Why can't he leave? What's the big deal if he wants to step out for some air or something?
This is a job that requires complete dedication and complete immersion. One has to give himself over completely and be completely dedicated to the job. The only way for that dedication to be pure and complete is by his total immersion into the job.
He cannot have any distractions. Nothing that might, even slightly, take away his focus and concentration from the mishkan.
Showing posts with label Kohanim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kohanim. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
opening day
Parshat Tzav
The latter half of Parshat Tzav deals with the 7 days of preparing Aharon and his sons for the kehuna, with the 8th day being in Parshat Shmini, where the transfer is actually made.
In Shir Ha'Shirim in 3:11, the passuk says, "צאינה וראינה בנות ציון..וביום שמחת לבו"- go out and gaze.. upon the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding and on the day of the happiness (joy) of his heart.
Rashi tells us "the day of his wedding" refers to the day of the giving of the Torah, and "the day of the happiness of his heart" refers to the 8th day of the consecration, on which the mishkan was dedicated.
The 8th day, the day the transfer of the kehuna was completed and the day the mishkan was established was an especially joyous day. Shlomo Ha'Melech calls it the day of joy of his heart.
The 7 days leading up to the 8th, which are described in parshat Tzav, must have been nerve-racking, along with being frightening and inspiring at the same time. They are getting ready for the most monumentous day in history, second to none, other than Matan Torah.
Can you imagine the trepidation with which they must have performed their obligations? As Moshe is dressing Aharon and his sons in the priestly garments, making sure everything is just so, and as he is training him in the various korbanos and their laws and procedures, the thoughts that must have been going through their heads!
When people prepare for a production, in the days leading up to the performance, their level of nervousness and fear increase more each day, until it is diffused on stage at the actual performance. How much more so they must have been nervous when preparing for "opening day" at the mishkan, knowing that Bnei Yisrael, and their relationship with Hashem, would depend on Aharon's performance.
Yet, I believe, that is why it tells us, "כאשר צוה ה את משה" - as Hashem commanded Moshe - every step of the way. Moshe said, this is what Hashem told me to do. he got Aharon dressed, as Hashem commanded Moshe. He placed upon him the hoshen, as Hashem commanded Moshe. They brought certain korbanos, as Hashem commanded Moshe. And so on.
This was not a performance. They were not putting on a production, where they needed to fear mistakes, failure and embarrassment. They were following the instructions of Hashem. Exactly. To the smallest point. Therefore they did it with joy and excitement, and not with fear and nervousness.
And the climax was on the 8th day when the Mishkan was opened and the love between Hashem and the people was even tangible, manifested through the new temple. וביום שמחת לבו.
The latter half of Parshat Tzav deals with the 7 days of preparing Aharon and his sons for the kehuna, with the 8th day being in Parshat Shmini, where the transfer is actually made.
In Shir Ha'Shirim in 3:11, the passuk says, "צאינה וראינה בנות ציון..וביום שמחת לבו"- go out and gaze.. upon the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding and on the day of the happiness (joy) of his heart.
Rashi tells us "the day of his wedding" refers to the day of the giving of the Torah, and "the day of the happiness of his heart" refers to the 8th day of the consecration, on which the mishkan was dedicated.
The 8th day, the day the transfer of the kehuna was completed and the day the mishkan was established was an especially joyous day. Shlomo Ha'Melech calls it the day of joy of his heart.
The 7 days leading up to the 8th, which are described in parshat Tzav, must have been nerve-racking, along with being frightening and inspiring at the same time. They are getting ready for the most monumentous day in history, second to none, other than Matan Torah.
Can you imagine the trepidation with which they must have performed their obligations? As Moshe is dressing Aharon and his sons in the priestly garments, making sure everything is just so, and as he is training him in the various korbanos and their laws and procedures, the thoughts that must have been going through their heads!
When people prepare for a production, in the days leading up to the performance, their level of nervousness and fear increase more each day, until it is diffused on stage at the actual performance. How much more so they must have been nervous when preparing for "opening day" at the mishkan, knowing that Bnei Yisrael, and their relationship with Hashem, would depend on Aharon's performance.
Yet, I believe, that is why it tells us, "כאשר צוה ה את משה" - as Hashem commanded Moshe - every step of the way. Moshe said, this is what Hashem told me to do. he got Aharon dressed, as Hashem commanded Moshe. He placed upon him the hoshen, as Hashem commanded Moshe. They brought certain korbanos, as Hashem commanded Moshe. And so on.
This was not a performance. They were not putting on a production, where they needed to fear mistakes, failure and embarrassment. They were following the instructions of Hashem. Exactly. To the smallest point. Therefore they did it with joy and excitement, and not with fear and nervousness.
And the climax was on the 8th day when the Mishkan was opened and the love between Hashem and the people was even tangible, manifested through the new temple. וביום שמחת לבו.
Monday, February 26, 2007
concern for each Jew
Parshat T'Tzaveh
In 28:29-30 the passuk tells us, " וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת-שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחֹשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט, עַל-לִבּוֹ--בְּבֹאוֹ אֶל-הַקֹּדֶשׁ: לְזִכָּרֹן לִפְנֵי-ה', תָּמִיד...וְנָתַתָּ אֶל-חֹשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט, אֶת-הָאוּרִים וְאֶת-הַתֻּמִּים, וְהָיוּ עַל-לֵב אַהֲרֹן, בְּבֹאוֹ לִפְנֵי ה'; וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת-מִשְׁפַּט בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל-לִבּוֹ, לִפְנֵי ה'--תָּמִיד" - And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD; and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
The passuk tells us two issues about Aharon carrying Bnei Yisrael on his heart. Once about the names and once about their concerns.
The names of Bnei Yisrael indicate something personal. Aharon has to think about every Jew all the time. Whenever he goes into the Holies, he must have the welfare of every individual Jew in his heart.
The judgement of Bnei Yisrael refers to the concerns of the people. When Aharon goes into the Holies, he must bring with him the worries and concerns of the people.
The act of Aharon (or any Kohen) entering into the Holies and performing the obligations, is not a power trip, nor is it an act limited to the benefit of himself or the nation on some sort of macro level. Aharon must have at the top of his concerns the needs, the worries, the concerns of every individual Jew.
That is a lesson for anybody in leadership positions. You are there representing the people. You are not in place in order to personally benefit, though that might very well be a result of such positioning. You are there in order to look out for the needs of the people. You are there to remember each person and his concerns, and you are to bear them on your heart at all times. That should be what drives and motivates you to act.
In 28:29-30 the passuk tells us, " וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת-שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּחֹשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט, עַל-לִבּוֹ--בְּבֹאוֹ אֶל-הַקֹּדֶשׁ: לְזִכָּרֹן לִפְנֵי-ה', תָּמִיד...וְנָתַתָּ אֶל-חֹשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט, אֶת-הָאוּרִים וְאֶת-הַתֻּמִּים, וְהָיוּ עַל-לֵב אַהֲרֹן, בְּבֹאוֹ לִפְנֵי ה'; וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת-מִשְׁפַּט בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל-לִבּוֹ, לִפְנֵי ה'--תָּמִיד" - And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD; and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
The passuk tells us two issues about Aharon carrying Bnei Yisrael on his heart. Once about the names and once about their concerns.
The names of Bnei Yisrael indicate something personal. Aharon has to think about every Jew all the time. Whenever he goes into the Holies, he must have the welfare of every individual Jew in his heart.
The judgement of Bnei Yisrael refers to the concerns of the people. When Aharon goes into the Holies, he must bring with him the worries and concerns of the people.
The act of Aharon (or any Kohen) entering into the Holies and performing the obligations, is not a power trip, nor is it an act limited to the benefit of himself or the nation on some sort of macro level. Aharon must have at the top of his concerns the needs, the worries, the concerns of every individual Jew.
That is a lesson for anybody in leadership positions. You are there representing the people. You are not in place in order to personally benefit, though that might very well be a result of such positioning. You are there in order to look out for the needs of the people. You are there to remember each person and his concerns, and you are to bear them on your heart at all times. That should be what drives and motivates you to act.
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