Parshat Shelach 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the end of this week’s parsha the mitzvah of Tzitzis. This command comes at the end of the parsha of the Meraglim, the spies sent to scout out Eretz Yisrael. Though Rashi perhaps suggests a connection by the words (Chapter 15, Pasuk 39), Lo Sasuru Acharei Levavchem V’Acharei Eineichem, Ha’Lev Ve’Haeiynayim Meraglim La’Guf, what is real the connection between the parsha of Tzitzis and the Meraglim?
Rashi brings in the previous pasuk that the word Tzitzis comes from the word to see, as the pasuk says in Shir HaShirim (Chapter 2, Pasuk 9), Mei’Tzitz Min Ha’Charakim. Hashem is described as looking through the cracks and seeing Bnei Yisrael during their galus and remembering them. Similarly, the function of the Tzitzis is for Bnei Yisrael to see them and be reminded of the mitzvos, as it says in the next pasuk, U’Re’isem Oso U’Zechartem es Kol Mitzvos Hashem. You shall see them and remember all the mitzvos of Hashem.
The Sfas Emes teaches that seeing is a fundamental aspect of our role in the world. We are meant to serve as testifiers of Hashem as the Creator of the world, as the Navi Yeshayahu describes Bnei Yisrael (Chapter 43, Pasuk 10), Atem Eidai. And our status as testifiers was established by the unique relationship our three forefathers had with Hashem. As the pasuk says (Shmos, Chapter 6, Pasuk 3), Va’era el Avraham el Avraham el Yitzchak v’el Yaakov, Hashem appeared to Avraham, the one who searched for and found Gd, to Yitzchak who feared Gd and the word Yirah is the same as the word Re’iyah, and to Yaakov who represented Emes, as the pasuk says (Michah, Chapter 7, Pasuk 20), Titen Emes L’Yaakov.
In order to enable us to reach the level of prophecy of the Avos, Hashem gave us the mitzvah of Aliyah L’Regel three times corresponding to the three Avos. We go up three times a year to Yerushalayim in order to be seen before Hashem, as the pasuk says (Devarim, Chapter 16, Pasuk 16), Shalosh Pe’amim Be’Shanah Yeira’eh Kol Zechurcha; three times a year all your males shall be seen. And even though the mitzvah is to be seen, Chazal compare in the Gemara in Chagigah 2A the way the word Yeira’eh is pronounced and the way it is written, Yireh, which means you shall see. And Rashi on the Gemara explains this comparison to mean that just as they are seen before Hashem, so too when Bnei Yisrael go up to Yerushalayim, they merit Liros es Pnei Ha’Shechinah. Just as our forefathers had Hashem appear before them, we merit to have Hashem appear before us when we go up to Yerushalayim on the Regel.
The word Tzitzis appears three times in this parsha. The thrice mentioned Tzitzis is meant to correspond to these three times we go up to Yerushalayim in order to be seen. As the pasuk we quoted in Shir HaShirim indicates, Hashem is Mei’Tzitz Min Ha’Charakim; Hashem, so to speak, looks at us and gave us Tzitzis. And similarly, we look at them and are reminded of our obligation to keep the mitzvos of Hashem. We see them and then remember our function to act as testifiers to Hashem as the Creator.
There are two manners in which we serve as witnesses. The pasuk in Vayikra (Chapter 5, Pasuk 1) in discussing the person who withholds testimony states, V’Hu Eid, O Ra’ah O Yada. His testimony is either based on seeing or on knowledge. One can see an event take place, or he can be told the event took place, without seeing it. The Zohar Hakadosh teaches that knowledge is greater than seeing. One who is aware and convinced and conscious of a truth is on a higher level than who needs a visual reminder or proof.
When Hashem gave us the Torah through Moshe Rabbeinu, Bnei Yisrael were on the level of knowledge. As the pasuk in Devarim states (Chapter 4, Pasuk 35), Atah Harei’sa La’Da’as; You witnessed Matan Torah and had a knowledge of Hashem. But now after the chet ha’egel, and the sin of the Meraglim, Bnei Yisrael lost this level of knowledge. They were no longer on the level of Moshe Rabbeinu who continued to serve as a witness of knowledge, an eid of O Yada.
Therefore, Hashem gave Bnei Yisrael the mitzvah of Tzitzis. If we could no longer serve as witnesses of knowledge, we could serve as witnesses of seeing. And to facilitate this role, Hashem gave us the mitzvah of Tzitzis to remind us of our testimony. Hashem continues to look at us through the cracks and simultaneously gives us a visual reminder of our role in the world. For even if we are not constantly knowledgeable, we are given visual aids to remind us who we are and what are function in the world is, which the Navi Yeshayahu describes as Atem Eidai.
Good Shabbos
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