A thought on Parshas Tetzaveh
A Thought on Parshas Tetzaveh
"..v'hiktir alav Aharon kitores samim..."
"...and Aharon will kindle the fragrant incense..." (30:7)
The lost art of compounding ketores, the temple incense, was once a vital part of the sacred ritual. The kohen would add fire to the finely powdered spices and the chamber would soon be redolent with their sweet, alluring scent. Our tradition has it that the town of Jericho, quite some distance from Jerusalem, had its air tainted with the incense as the smoke drifted and diffused over the desert skies. The name Yereicho hints at this since it captures the word re'iach, or fragrance.
The Rambam writes (Moreh HaNevuchim 3:45) that one function which we might attribute to the incense was that it masked the temple air made heavy with the sacrificial offerings and with the effects of throngs of animated people attending to strenuous temple work. Moreover, he writes, the incense stimulated people's recognition that this Shrine was a holy place.
The mind and the soul are soothed and also aroused by pleasing scents. The mind and the body recoil from malodorous substances. The incense permeated the air, the tapestries and even the garments worn by those nearby. The impact of that sensory boost inspired awe and people were better able to sense the spiritual energy there.
That way, each visit to the temple, even the anticipation of going there, was associated with that profound deeper sense that the sacred service was of supreme importance and value. This led people to a heightened yearning to draw closer to HaShem. They did so with purity, with devotion and with humbled awareness of HaShem's love and compassion in turning to the offerings of His people with atonement and forgiveness.
* * * * *
The Rosh surveys the same themes as they are depicted in TaNaCh's descriptions of the ketores. Indeed, we read in VaYikra 16:13 of the awe associated with the incense. In Tehillim 66:15 we find Dovid HaMelech longing to show devotion which he associates with wanting to encounter that incense. The sacred Mishkan was inaugurated as the princes brought forth gifts of incense (BaMidbar 7:14), so that tikun, renewal and atonement would be possible there.
The Rosh sees an allusion to these spiritual properties associated with ketores. That word is spelled with the Hebrew letters kuf, tes, reish, tof. This hints, in the interpretative acrostic known as notrikon, at Kedusha, Tahara, Rachamim, Takana - holiness, purity, compassion, and atonement.
Wishing you a good Shabbos and a joyous Purim of renewal and redemption. D. Fox
"..v'hiktir alav Aharon kitores samim..."
"...and Aharon will kindle the fragrant incense..." (30:7)
The lost art of compounding ketores, the temple incense, was once a vital part of the sacred ritual. The kohen would add fire to the finely powdered spices and the chamber would soon be redolent with their sweet, alluring scent. Our tradition has it that the town of Jericho, quite some distance from Jerusalem, had its air tainted with the incense as the smoke drifted and diffused over the desert skies. The name Yereicho hints at this since it captures the word re'iach, or fragrance.
The Rambam writes (Moreh HaNevuchim 3:45) that one function which we might attribute to the incense was that it masked the temple air made heavy with the sacrificial offerings and with the effects of throngs of animated people attending to strenuous temple work. Moreover, he writes, the incense stimulated people's recognition that this Shrine was a holy place.
The mind and the soul are soothed and also aroused by pleasing scents. The mind and the body recoil from malodorous substances. The incense permeated the air, the tapestries and even the garments worn by those nearby. The impact of that sensory boost inspired awe and people were better able to sense the spiritual energy there.
That way, each visit to the temple, even the anticipation of going there, was associated with that profound deeper sense that the sacred service was of supreme importance and value. This led people to a heightened yearning to draw closer to HaShem. They did so with purity, with devotion and with humbled awareness of HaShem's love and compassion in turning to the offerings of His people with atonement and forgiveness.
* * * * *
The Rosh surveys the same themes as they are depicted in TaNaCh's descriptions of the ketores. Indeed, we read in VaYikra 16:13 of the awe associated with the incense. In Tehillim 66:15 we find Dovid HaMelech longing to show devotion which he associates with wanting to encounter that incense. The sacred Mishkan was inaugurated as the princes brought forth gifts of incense (BaMidbar 7:14), so that tikun, renewal and atonement would be possible there.
The Rosh sees an allusion to these spiritual properties associated with ketores. That word is spelled with the Hebrew letters kuf, tes, reish, tof. This hints, in the interpretative acrostic known as notrikon, at Kedusha, Tahara, Rachamim, Takana - holiness, purity, compassion, and atonement.
Wishing you a good Shabbos and a joyous Purim of renewal and redemption. D. Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 7:48 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home