TZAV SHABBAT *HAGADOL 5778
ASHES IN OUR LIVES
March 22, 2018
6 Nissan, 5778
Fire shall be kept burning upon the (sacrificial) altar continually; it shall not go out. [Leviticus 6: 6]
The kohanim (priests) had a difficult task tending to this fire. There was no gas connection to assure a steady flame. Ashes had to be continually removed, wood had to be prepared then carefully placed on the altar, and the flame had to be banked to assure uniform heat.
Many of the commentators view this flame as symbolizing God's presence in the Mishkan (the desert sanctuary) and subsequently in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem —giving it a palpable sense of God's presence. Tending the flame was a metaphor for the constant attention required to sensing God's presence in our live–it takes work and commitment. It was a daunting task for the kohanim; and it is a daunting task for us today.
Removing the ashes is a metaphor for the ongoing challenge to reflect upon our life and to remove from it the stain of sin. Thus removing the ashes symbolizes the struggle to create a clean slate that will more easily enable us to commune with God.
We most effectively tend this flame through our commitment to the mitzvot, the commandments, that are so basic to our Tradition. During this season of Pesach recollecting and celebrating the liberation of our ancestors from Egypt, should lead us to focus on the reality that we live in an imperfect world where slavery and servitude are still far too common.. We need to be ever mindful of the importance of Tikkun Olam, seeking opportunities to help realize the dream of a repaired and just world.
It's a daunting task to continually remove the ashes that blight every existence. It's worth all the effort if we wish to preserve and nurture the flame symbolizing God's presence in our lives… to live up to our commitment not "to let the light go out."
May we be blessed with the personal joy of succeeding to welcome God's presence within us and to be continually warmed by his personal fire that we determinedly refuse to be extinguished.
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From the holy city of Jerusalem my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach, a Shabbat of peace and blessing.
Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman
*This Shabbat is called Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath. According to tradition it was on the Shabbat prior to the Exodus that the Israelites were instructed to take into their homes a lamb, a symbol of deity to Egyptians, in preparation for the Pesach sacrifice. The haftara, chosen from the writings of the prophet Malachi, makes reference to God sending Elijiah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of redemption. Hence the special name and designation of this Shabbat.
VAYIKRA ROSH CHODESH PARSAT *HACHODESH 5778
TO KNOW NOT AND TO KNOW
March 15, 2018
28 Adar 5778
Exodus ends with the completion of the mishkan (sanctuary) under Moses' direction and with a cloud of glory settling over it. Leviticus, our Torah reading this week, begins with the edict that it was forbidden to enter this holy place. However, God calls to Moses from the sanctuary and instructs him to speak and to teach the children of Israel.
The relationship between God and Moses was one of mentor and mentee, of teacher and student, a privilege enjoyed solely by Moses. God transmitted His laws to him from the sanctuary. It was then Moses' obligation and privilege to share it with the Children of Israel. This relationship is a model of a successful mentoring process. The mentor is beholden to have mastery over his material and to be in direct contact with his disciple or student.
God obviously had total mastery of what He was teaching that transmitted it to Moses panim el panim (face to face).
Successful mentoring, however, is not a one-way process. The mentor must be prepared to hear what his or her protégé has to say–reactions and critiques are not only to be permitted but encouraged. Moses thus openly reacted to some of the divine edicts, actually challenging God to reverse His decision. At times he succeeded and at times did not but the lines of communication were always open.
Life presents us with opportunities to be in a mentor relationship: in the family (parent-child), in the workplace, in the military and in the many situations in which wisdom, direction and guidance are sought from us. Such situations are the most fruitful when there is an open and ongoing give and take.
A significant challenge facing mentors and mentees is to enable the latter to acquire the knowledge, skills and commitment to mentor others. The opening teachings of the Ethics of the Fathers recounts that Moses received the Torah from God and passed it on to Joshua. From Joshua it was passed to the great assembly of rabbis and teachers, a process that continues to this very day
How do we best choose the right mentor? An ancient Indian proverb taught:
He who knows not and does not know that he knows not is a fool, shun him.
He who knows but knows not that he knows is asleep, awaken him.
He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a student, teach him.
He however, who knows that he knows is a teacher, follow him.
A mentoring relationship is most successful when the mentor openly knows that he knows and the disciple is aware that in this particular area he knows not. It's a blessing to be embraced as a mentee. It is no less a blessing to be privileged to serve as a mentor thereby teaching, reaching out, and serving as a dedicated model.
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From the holy city of Jerusalem my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach, a Shabbat of peace and blessing.
Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman
*This is fourth in the series of special Shabbatot connecting the beginning of the month of Nisan (observed this Tuesday) to Pesach. The selection read from the second Sefer Torah, Exodus ch. 12:1-20, begins with God's command to recognize the month of Nisan as the "first" of the months of the year and then continues with the instruction to choose the lamb to be offered as the Pesach sacrifice. The special reading for Rosh Chodesh is read from a third Torah.
