Overview
of the Torah Reading To
be read on Shabbat Pekudei, 2 Adar II 5779/March 9, 2019
(for a free weekly email subscription, click here) Everyone admits that it is best to be organized
and to do things in an orderly way. Chassidic lifestyle lauds the idea that a
Chassid must be organized. The Lubavitcher Rebbe was known to tell people that
if you want the day to go especially well, begin it with your daily Torah study
session (known as 'Chitas'), rather than 'making time' for them later in
the day. However, some of the most satisfying moments are when a person acts against
the flow. Something
very interesting becomes apparent when we examine the order of what Moshe did.
First, he put all of the different elements of the Sanctuary in their places,
and did the service that was appropriate for each one. For example, Moshe brought
in the table, and put the showbread on it; he placed the menorah and lit
its lights; he put in the golden altar and offered a spice offering. Only afterwards
did he complete the construction of the Sanctuary. Even the main daily offerings
were brought first before the final enclosure was put in place. The answer is that the inauguration day was not a regular day. The Torah used this watershed day to emphasize a basic principle in how we go about serving G-d (and which applies to our daily lives too). Sometimes we need to work not according to the normal order, but rather, 'above' order and the usual procedures. In general we can divide our work efforts into two categories. First, there is proceeding in an orderly way, each appropriate step preceding the step that follows. You move from the general to the specific, moving slowly up the ladder of holiness. Even so, and even at its best, such work has its limitations. Sometimes you need to break out. The Talmud (Eruvin 54a) describes this style as 'snatching'. We see in our own lives and in the history of the Jewish people that sometime it is impossible to do things step by step. Sometimes it is imperative to snatch whatever comes to hand. Chassidut explains that we are now in a world where this latter type of orientation is primary. Our era is referred to as 'the Heels of the Mashiach', the time immediately before the redemption. A person has to be ready to push limits. He can not be stuck on what was the normal order. The inauguration of the Sanctuary was an archetype event that gives strength to each person in every generation. Moshe could have moved in an orderly way but he chose not to. He chose to skip normal running procedures and do each mitzvah as it came to hand. Through this, Moshe set the precedent for all of us to also be able to serve G-d not according to the normal order. No question there is a certain risk. But the potential for result is greatly increased. It is through this potential that we will succeed in hastening the final redemption, through Mashiach (Likutei Sichos 31/218, Lubavitcher Rebbe). Shabbat Shalom , Shaul. FROM THE SAGES OF KABBALAH ON KabbalaOnline.org Specifically,
for an overview of the recommended articles in the columns: one
sample:
The only true count on earth was of the components which comprised the Holy Tabernacle. Normally, G-d objects to a headcount. In this instance G-d did not object; on the contrary - every single component contributed and accounted for increased the amount of blessings G-d bestowed on the Holy Tabernacle. To continue, click here. For a free email subscription to our weekly anthology, click here.
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