“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Vayikra
8 Adar II 5782/March 11, 2022
Parshas Zachor
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לזכר נשמת חו"מ נטע
יצחק בן אלכסנדר
ODE TO THE BEHOLDER
It’s
often said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
Why is
that true?
My ninth
grade Heichal students (bekius) and I are currently learning Maseches Tamid.
The shortest masechta in Shas, Tamid details the daily procedures of the avodah
performed in the Bais Hamikdash. Most particularly it discusses the offering of
the Korbon Tamid - the daily “consistency offering”. There were actually two
Korbanos Tamid brought each day. One served as the first offering brought in
the Bais Hamikdash each morning and a second one served as the final offering
brought every afternoon.
When we
began to learn about the slaughtering of the sheep and the subsequent
procedures of the Tamid, some of my students commented that it was disgusting
or gross.
I
replied that while it is understandable for one to feel squeamish about these
unfamiliar procedures, one should never refer to any part of the divine service
as being gross. In fact, it behooves us to recognize the beauty of the process
in which one had the ability to draw closer to his creator and attain atonement
for his sins.
My
students were understandably skeptical and questioned how they could see the
process of slaughtering an animal and ritually sprinkling it’s blood as, not
only unappealing, but beautiful.
I asked them if, as avid sports fans, they would be
excited if they were somehow able to procure the sports jersey that their
favorite player had worn during a championship game. They all nodded enthusiastically,
adding that they would hang it up on their wall, show it to all their friends,
and send pictures of it to all their contacts.
When I
asked them if they would wash the jersey first, most replied that they
definitely would not. The same would be true if they had the chance to get that
player’s sneakers. They would be enthralled to have the player’s smelly and
sweaty sneakers that had actually adorned his feet while he was playing.
I noted
that any non-sports fan would think they were insane. Why would any rational
person want the sweaty and smelly jersey or sneakers of someone else, never
mind hang it up on their wall?!
Non-sports
fans fail to see the sentimental value of such a jersey. They cannot comprehend
how having that article of clothing helps the diehard fan feel deeply connected
to his idol. Yet the fan is enamored and proud of the used, malodorous jersey
hanging on his wall.
The reason beauty is in the eyes of the beholder is that
beauty is subjective. For one, our definition of beauty is heavily impacted by
societal standards and definitions. What was considered beautiful decades ago
is not necessarily considered beautiful today. That’s surely true of what was
considered beautiful in generations past. The mishnah discusses the
permissibility of women wearing chokers around their neck on Shabbos to produce
a double chin. At that time, food was scarce and having more weight was
considered more upscale and attractive (ah, the good old days…).
In
addition, some of our ideas of beauty are heavily influenced by our values. An
architect can look at a building and remark how beautiful it is, while another
person doesn’t understand what’s so special about a structure of bricks and
windows.
In the
same vein, we may look at a pair of tefillin and admire how beautiful they are,
while a non-Jew will try to figure out what’s so beautiful about leather straps
connected to black leather boxes. The same holds true for a shofar, a piece of
matzah, an esrog, or a mezuzah.
When
something fits with our definition of value or importance, we see that
commodity as beautiful.
In that sense, the sprinkled blood of a Korban and the
other details of its offering are magnificently beautiful, even if it makes us
feel queasy.
Rabbi
Ezriel Tauber was once traveling and schmoozing with Rabbi Shimshon Pincus.
During their conversation, Rabbi Tauber mentioned that he had recently heard
about a yeshiva student who found out that his mother’s mother wasn’t born
Jewish and, therefore, he wasn’t Jewish. The young man told his rebbe that he
wanted to adhere to the Noachide laws, and not convert to Judaism.
Rabbi
Tauber then asked Rabbi Pincus what he would do if he found out he wasn’t
Jewish.
One
might have expected that Rabbi Pincus would reply that he would want to convert
immediately. However, Rabbi Pincus excitedly replied that if he wasn’t Jewish,
he would run to offer a korbon to Hashem (which is permitted for non-Jews).
Only afterwards, would he hurry to a Bais Din to convert and become a Jew.
(It
should be noted that Rabbi Tauber replied that he personally wouldn’t waste a
minute, even to offer a korban. He would run straight to Bais Din so that they
could convert him immediately. As a Holocaust survivor who couldn’t perform
mitzvos for a number of years, he wanted to take advantage of every opportunity
to do as many mitzvos as he could.)
To Rabbi
Pincus a Korban was the most beautiful expression of his greatest desire in the
world - to serve Hashem on the highest level.
Perhaps
we don’t feel that level of emotional excitement. But we can at least remind
ourselves of the unparalleled beauty that Korbanos afforded, the ability to
express and feel the highest level of connection with G-d.
Could
there be anything more beautiful?
May we
have the opportunity to perform them again soon.
Shabbat
Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum