Parshat Tetzaveh 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
This week's parsha begins with the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah and then is followed by the Bigdei Kahunah, the special garments worn by the Kohanim in the Mishkan. The mitzvah of lighting the Menorah appears in other places in the Torah as well. What is the significance of the Menorah appearing specifically before the Torah teaches the various garments worn by the Kohanim while performing the service in the Miskan?
The Sfas Emes answers by quoting a pasuk in Koheles (Chapter 9, Pasuk 8), B'Chol Eis Yihyu Begadecha Levanim, V'Shemen Al Roshcha Al Yechsar. The first half of the pasuk is referring to a person's body. The body is like a garment, a begged, over the Neshamah. The pasuk is teaching that one should constantly be working on purifying himself and making sure his garments, i.e. his body, is white and pure. And as a result of this, V'Shemen Al Roshcha Al Yechsar, he will merit to have a purified soul as well and be worthy of receiving a Neshamah Yeseirah on Shabbos. When the pasuk states B'Chol Eis, at all times, it is referring to during the week. One needs to be constantly working on purifying his physical body, and as a result of this process, he merits to Shemen Al Roshcha Al Yechsar; those unique times like Shabbos and Yom Tov when he has a boost of spiritual connection in his Neshamah.
The Medrash quotes the different merits with which the Kohen Gadol is able to do the Avodah on Yom Kippur Lifnai V'Lifnim in the Kodesh HaKadashim. The Medrash includes in this list the merit of the Avanim V'Shevatim, the stones and the tribes, a reference to the Choshen, one of the gold garments worn by the Kohen Gadol. The Sfas Emes asks, but these garments weren't worn by the Kohen Gadol Lifnai V'Lifnim! When he went into the Kodesh HaKadashim he wore four simple white garments! How could he enter in the merit of the Choshen if he wasn't wearing it?
He answers that we see from this that the point of the Bigdei Kehunah was to purify the body of Aharon HaKohen. Wearing the special garments of the Kohen Gadol the whole year round impacted on him and allowed him to enter the Kodesh HaKadashim on Yom Kippur even though he wasn't wearing them at the time. The pasuk tells us regarding the Choshen (Chapter 28, Pasuk 30), V'Hayu al Lev Aharon, it shall be on Aharon's heart. It impacted his heart and affected his heart. The words al Lev should be understood as over his heart in the sense of controlling his heart. The desire of Hashem should take precedent and dominate over his own personal desires.
The Torah teaches in parshat Acharei Mos (Vayikra, Chapter 16, Pasuk 17), V'Chol Adam Lo Yihyeh B'Ohel Moed. When Aharon HaKohen did the Avodah on Yom Kippur Lifnai V'Lifnim, no person was allowed to be inside with him. The Medrash learns on this pasuk that Aharon HaKohen when he did the Avodah was not a regular mortal; he was considered like an angel. The purification of his body through the Bigdei Kehunah was so great that he reached the level of being like an angel, like the pasuk in Koheles concludes, V'Shemen Al Roshcha Al Yechsar.
This is the connection between the lighting of the Menorah and the Bigdei Kehunah. The Bigdei Kehunah are meant to purify the physical side of man which allows for the spiritual to reside within him, which is the light of the Menorah. And the Bigdei Kehunah impact not only the Kohanim, but they impact Clal Yisrael as well. And in a similar vein the lighting of the Menorah also affects all of Clal Yisrael. The pasuk in Mishlei teaches (Chapter 20, Pasuk 27) Ner Hashem Nishmas Adam. Every Jew is a candle and when Aharon HaKohen lit the Menorah, he lit up the Neshamah of every Jew.
Even though as we said above the Bigdei Kehunah impact on every Jew, we all have our own special garments. We have the mitzvos of Tzitzis and Tefillin and these mitzvos are meant to impact upon our physical bodies as well. The Torah says by Tefillin (Devarim, Chapter 11, Pasuk 18) that these mitzvos should be al Levavchem; just as the Choshen is meant to be al Lev Aharon. Tefillin is also meant to be a seal, as the pasuk says in Shir HaShirim (Chapter 8 Pasuk 6) Simaini Ke'Chosem al Libecha Ka'chosam al Zero'echa. The mitzvah of Tefillin is meant to be a seal, it's meant to impact upon our physical bodies so that we can raise ourselves up and return to the source of the Kedushah contained within our holy Neshamos.
Good Shabbos
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