This week’s question comes from Mr. Richard Pollock (Media Producer)
QUESTION: Hashem ordered that we not honor any earthly idols. Even Mt. Sinai is not considered a sacred place on earth. So why are the designs of the Tabernacle, its contents and the Kohanim dress so elaborate?
ANSWER: In our Yom Kippur services there is a complete section which details the service of the High Priest on the day of Yom Kippur (it is called The Avodah). This section is a synopsis of all that is written in the Torah on the charge of the High Priest regarding his service on the holiest day of the year. One of the most meaningful descriptions we read of is the sequence of garments he wore as he performed the service of this day. During the parts of the service which he performed before the eyes of the people he was to wear all his elaborate garments, especially the four which exhibited gold and precious gems. On the other hand when he entered into the Holy of Holies (something he was allowed to do only on Yom Kippur) the Torah instructs him to strip away all his ornate garments and to stand before G-d in his basic pure white garments, the same dress worn by all the other priest. The symbolism of this is plain to understand. When the Kohain Gadol stood before the people he was representing G-d before the nation, he thus was commanded to make an impression upon them of distinction and of a higher Archie. Naturally one of the best ways to do this would be to confront them wearing beautiful garments complimented with gold and precious gems. But when the Kohain Gadol stood facing G-d alone as he stood one to one with Hashem in the Holy of Holies, he presented himself unenhanced, his true and essential self.
So too it must be with each of us. When in public at a moment when we are exhibiting our feelings of G-d, we are asked to be graphic and elaborate. This helps the world understand just how precious and important G-d is to us, perhaps they too might become inspired. For Hashem’s honor we choose the best of all that we posses, to make it abundantly clear just how much we love Hashem (of course we must be sincere). But when we face G-d alone, one to one as for example during the Amidah, we are instructed to show humility, stand at attention our voice almost at a whisper as we portray ourselves with modesty and delineate in our prayer our dependence on the one above.
Was it always meant to be this way? In the beginning once Adam and Eve chose to fancy something other than G-d Himself their destiny was changed from a life in Gan Eden to one where they and all of mankind would dwell on earth. Same was true of our forbearers once they sinned with the Golden Calf. Our Sages report that before the Golden Calf incident there was no need for a Jew to pray in a dedicated and elaborate house of worship (in fact private prayer at home would have been preferred). However once man attributed value and elite status to objects and temporal ideas strange to G-d in Heaven they created a dichotomy between G-d and G-d’s creations. At that point they changed forever the entire nature of our service to Hashem. To rectify matters our services now are performed in public (with a Minyan) in a ornate Shul. One reason for this is so that we may demonstrate that we believe all of G-d’s creation is but a product of the divine and we do not consider anything to have independent value. We do this by exhibiting that all items to which mankind has assessed the greatest value, precisely those items we dedicate to service of Hashem. However, when we stand alone before G-d Himself we demonstrate this same point but in reverse form. We remove ourselves of anything ornate to show how well perceive that everything in the world has no value in the face of G-d Himself; the only true value anything has is that it is part of G-d’s creation and exist only because of him.
PERHAPS A LESSON WHICH CAN BE LEARNED:
WHY SETTLE FOR SECOND TIER QUALITY AND PAY A FIRST RATE PRICE?
We sometimes unwittingly choose a second tier relationship with G-d.
When in life we confer crucial importance to secondary matters (e.g. gold and diamonds) we in the same time are bringing down the level of our relationship with G-d. We all exist on whatever level we choose to function at. If we choose to function on a lower level by design (intentionally), perhaps because we seek a less demanding religious experience, we should realize that we will still be asked by G-d to offer Him the very best of the things we most treasure at that level. I would then ask you: Why not share a relationship with G-d on the most profound level, since even on a second tier relationship G-d will still request that you offer Him the best of of whatever you consider your most valuable?
We encorage you to post your thoughts and comments to enrich the conversation.
To pose a question please contact Richard at rpollock@starpower.net
