A thought on פרשת פנחס
"...korbani lachmi l'ishai...l'hakriv li...""...bring close My fire-offering sacrifice to me..." (28:2)
With the above verse, HaShem commanded us to bring a daily sacrifice, the korban tamid. It is referred to as a fire-offering and the Torah stressed that it must be "brought close."
The Recanati ponders the term "fire-offering." This sacrifice is referred to by three terms here, korban (offering), lechem (meal) and aish (fire). If you look at the words closely, the sacrifice is actually called by the first two (korbani lachmi) and then the verse says it is "l'ishai", for My fire. What is lurking beneath these words?
Furthermore, notes the Recanati, the commandment is not to bring near (l'karev), but "to make close" (l'hakriv). What do those words hint at?
The Recanati explains that l'hakriv li - to make close for Me - is a reference to the gravity of this commandment. By bringing a daily offering to HaShem, every day of the year regardless of circumstance, the Jewish nation accomplished a profound and sacred goal: this constant and full-bodied devotion was a means of binding all of the names of HaShem by means of proclaiming Him the One and Supreme Lord. The homage, the devotion and the continuity of serving Him this way enunciated to the world that He is Above all. This is what the prophet Zecharia (14:9) declares, "HaShem echad u'Shmo Echad" - HaShem and His Name are One. We assert this three times daily in the Aleinu prayer. This is the meaning of l'hakriv - to make close, as opposed to l'karev, to bring close. We cannot get "close" to the Above in real terms, but we can, down on this planet, create a sense that His name and attributes are compacted into One, and that we acknowledge His Oneness despite His infinite greatness.
Bringing close that offering, and making the Name close (One) is for "My fire." "Fire" in this verse refers to people. When we devote our bodies and minds and souls to such complete focused service of the One G-d, we are on fire. We are aflame with the sacred glow which selfless avoda ignites. At that moment, we are "His flames on earth." Think of all those times we refer, especially during the yamim nora'im, to angelic forces as "flashing beacons of light", "flaming presences" and so on. That is our metaphor for a power and energy which is beyond this world. Meanwhile, down here, we also capture some of that inflammation. When we serve HaShem and bring forth daily offerings, we draw close and He kavayachol
considers us His fiery servants down below.
Just having returned from two weeks of Torah in Jerusalem, I am a bit on fire too. Wishing you a good Shabbos. D Fox
With the above verse, HaShem commanded us to bring a daily sacrifice, the korban tamid. It is referred to as a fire-offering and the Torah stressed that it must be "brought close."
The Recanati ponders the term "fire-offering." This sacrifice is referred to by three terms here, korban (offering), lechem (meal) and aish (fire). If you look at the words closely, the sacrifice is actually called by the first two (korbani lachmi) and then the verse says it is "l'ishai", for My fire. What is lurking beneath these words?
Furthermore, notes the Recanati, the commandment is not to bring near (l'karev), but "to make close" (l'hakriv). What do those words hint at?
The Recanati explains that l'hakriv li - to make close for Me - is a reference to the gravity of this commandment. By bringing a daily offering to HaShem, every day of the year regardless of circumstance, the Jewish nation accomplished a profound and sacred goal: this constant and full-bodied devotion was a means of binding all of the names of HaShem by means of proclaiming Him the One and Supreme Lord. The homage, the devotion and the continuity of serving Him this way enunciated to the world that He is Above all. This is what the prophet Zecharia (14:9) declares, "HaShem echad u'Shmo Echad" - HaShem and His Name are One. We assert this three times daily in the Aleinu prayer. This is the meaning of l'hakriv - to make close, as opposed to l'karev, to bring close. We cannot get "close" to the Above in real terms, but we can, down on this planet, create a sense that His name and attributes are compacted into One, and that we acknowledge His Oneness despite His infinite greatness.
Bringing close that offering, and making the Name close (One) is for "My fire." "Fire" in this verse refers to people. When we devote our bodies and minds and souls to such complete focused service of the One G-d, we are on fire. We are aflame with the sacred glow which selfless avoda ignites. At that moment, we are "His flames on earth." Think of all those times we refer, especially during the yamim nora'im, to angelic forces as "flashing beacons of light", "flaming presences" and so on. That is our metaphor for a power and energy which is beyond this world. Meanwhile, down here, we also capture some of that inflammation. When we serve HaShem and bring forth daily offerings, we draw close and He kavayachol
considers us His fiery servants down below.
Just having returned from two weeks of Torah in Jerusalem, I am a bit on fire too. Wishing you a good Shabbos. D Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 11:52 PM
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