This week’s portion, T’zav – literally, “[you shall] order
them” – is a direct continuation of last week’s portion. My notes, fittingly,
would also continue the discussion we began last week.
I. Back to the Basics with Jeremayah
Last week we introduced the beautiful synthesis presented by
the offering of sacrifices: On the one hand, the People of Israel were ordered
for the first time in history to be completely obedient to a God that has no
shape, form, or other sensory presence; on the other hand, those same people –
a band of former slave, let us recall – had also a very strong urge to see,
hear, smell, touch, and feel the God they worshipped. Enter the sacrifices – a
limited but well-defined form of worshiping allowing all Jewish people to be
involved with all five senses during their service.
This week’s portion is a direct continuation of that idea.
Again we see how the text sets up, in great detail, the exact manners by which
God should be worshipped. But while the idea of a synthesis through the
sacrifices – first brought up by Maimonides – is certainly impressive, it may
also overlook a serious issue. There is a fear – particularly in Judaism,
though in other religions as well – that this exact form of worship will
ultimately replace the very substance of the faith; that the center of
the Jewish Emu’nah (faith in God) would become the way by which we
observe God rather than the mere belief in Him. Indeed, once the people
were allowed to succumb to their earthly desires, even ever so slightly and
under control, what would prevent them to think that this is the essence
on which their entire Emunah rests? What would make them forget that presenting
the sacrifice is merely the demonstration of their belief rather than
the belief itself? How could such fears be alleviated?
Enter this week’s Haftarah. Here, the prophet Yirmiyahu
(Jeremiah) eloquently explains how to prevent any misunderstanding as to what
is important, and what is less important, in Jewish Emunah:
So said
the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: For I have NOT spoken to your
forefathers and I have NOT ordered them on the day I freed them from the land
of Egypt on the notions of sacrifices and offerings. Rather, I have commanded
them but this one thing: “Listen to my voice, and I shall be your God, and you
shall be my people. And you shall walk in all the ways I have commanded and you
shall be better for that.” But they
have not listened, nor have they lent their ear to me, and they have formed
their own groups, following their evil hearts and instincts, and they went
backwards instead of forward. [And this
is true] from the day your forefathers have left the land of Egypt to this very
day. And I have sent upon you all my
true slaves – the prophets – every single morning I have sent them; but they
have neither listened to me nor lend me their ear, and they have stiffened
their necks and became worst than their previous generation. [Jeremayah
7:22-26]
To cap this wonderful recitation, Yirmiyahu reminds us (in
one of his most famous statements):
So said
our Lord: Let not the wise man brag about his wisdom; and let not the brave man
brag about his bravery; let not the rich man brag about his richness; for by
this those who brag should brag: Find wisdom and know me, for I am the Lord who
performs justice, law, and charity in the land – for these are the ones I have
wished for. So said the Lord. [Jerrmiah 9:22]
Indeed, Yirmiyahu brings us back to the basics. And it’s good to be back.
Shabbat Shalom,
Doron
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