This week we learn about the material system, the mikdash, and the ways in which G-d commands the jewish people to serve Him through it. A big part of the parasha deals with the Kohanim, the priests with their garments which are very very specific (without these the service in the mikdash would not be valid! that is because its not symbolic but all the garments have the purpose of spiritual rectification, repairing the communities faults.. there are many more details and profound teachings which will not be the subject of this post). It is not the details that I want to expand on but I want to answer the question of what the service of offering and sacrifice even represents. Last week, we explained that every single one of us is a Mikdash and we should all make ourselves a comfortable house and dwelling place for G-d.
| א וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מִזְבֵּ֖חַ מִקְטַ֣ר קְטֹ֑רֶת עֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּ֖ים תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתֽוֹ |
How can we, though, understand why in the Mikdash we burnt spices and sacrificed animals? What can we take from that knowledge to find the reflection within our own service to G-d in our days?
The main two aspects of the templeservice, as i wrote, were the Korbanot (animal sacrifice) and the Ketoret (incense).
The animal sacrifice happened on the external altar which represents our outer heart;
The word Korban spells out with its letters the word Karov, which means “close” – through the sacrifice we come closer to Hashem. But what does closeness mean? When it is not about gain but about the other person’s needs, when we serve G-d not because we feel like it or because it makes sense but because that is what He wants from us. Thus we learn that on the external altar, we offer our extrernal desires to rid ourselves of selfish motives to be able to serve G-d from a place of purity. And what exactly are these external desires defined as? It is nothing other but our animal soul – that is why we sacrifice animals ! They represent the animal soul and their blood that is sprinkled on the altar represents passion and heat for things that in their essence alienate us from our pure core. The Korbanot teach us that in order to make our external and desire-driven part crave and serve Hashem, we need to come to the realisation that we can only connect to our source once we drop selfish motives and offer our animalistic desires so that we gain a sense of closeness.
By the inner altar is where the incense, consisting of 11 different spices, was burnt. It represents our inner heart, our essence and union the search and feeling of true connection. Here, there’s no noise and blood and animals but its just the Priest, who has to be alone in the room, in silence. The incense came to dispel the foul odors from the animal sacrifices, which are full of the idea of the selfishness, the brutality and the materiality of the animal in man, to bring about a heavenly smell. Through the incense, we unveil our essence connection with G-d which transcends logic and is higher that the brain. Just as this essence connection between man and G-d only happens when were alone and intimate with Hashem, so was the priest alone in the room. We can understand that after we get rid of all the external desires and blockages, quiet them down to be able to hear this union and inner, silent voice within ourselves that calls out for Hashem !
May we all be able to make ourselves an altar for Hashem and use the wisdom of the torah to connect to Him in our own, intimate ways.
Shabbat Shalom!! Its Purim next week im soooooo HYPE !!!!!!