Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
March 7th 2013 -Volume 3, Issue 22 –25th of Adar
5773
Parshas
Va'Yakhel/ Pikudei/ Chodesh
Reflections of Beauty
This
is not my typical Rabbi Schwartz "Happy Anniversary" annual E-mail.
Not just because this Shabbos is 19 years since I became the fortunate and
blessed husband of my still beautiful bride and every 19 years on the Jewish
calendar the Hebrew and English date fall out on the same day ( it's that whole
solar/lunar calendar thing). Although that is certainly cause enough to
celebrate. This past week in advance of this anniversary, Hashem sent me a
reminder of something that unfortunately I forget too often.
This
past Purim, my favorite Rebbetzin went into the hospital for what was meant to
be fairly standard procedure, which turned into a scary few hours until the
doctors were able to get everything under control again. I suddenly went from
Purim to Yom Ki'Purim in a few short moments. My mind raced and 19 years of
marriage past before my eyes; the good, the better and the best and all those
times in between. All the things I should've said (and shouldn't have), the
flowers I should've bought more of and the vacations and "quality times"
we had always spoken about and haven't yet completed going on (there are still
a few States we haven't visited or lived in). But perhaps the most terrifying
and sadly eye-opening epiphany of that long night was how incomplete I would
feel without her God-forbid… As much as I always prided myself as being blessed
with having been able to accomplish so much, it finally hit me like a ton of
bricks how little I could do and had been able to do without her by my side. I
felt lost and dis-oriented. It was perhaps the scariest moment of my life. When
her eyes opened up again and she smiled again at me, it was like I was under
that chupah once again. I had my wife back, I re-found myself.
This
week we conclude the 2nd book of the Torah Shemos; the book of Exile
and Redemption. In the Torah's reiteration in its accounting of the building of
the Tabernacle/Mishkan it describes the unique basin that stood in the
courtyard which was used to wash and purify oneself with before bringing
sacrifices in the Temple and from where water was taken to restore peace
between a husband and wife in cases of suspected infidelity. What makes this
vessel unique is the donors and the source of the contributions. The verse
tells us that the Kiyor/Laver or basin was made from the mirrors of the
women. Rashi in one of the few and most elaborate comments on these Parshiyot quotes
the following medrash
"The daughters of Israel had mirrors which they looked at
while they adorned themselves, but they did not hesitate to give them as
voluntary offering for the Sanctuary. But Moses had contempt for them, because
they were made for the Evil Urge. The Holy One blessed be He told him: Accept
them, for they are more pleasing to me than anything else, for by their means
the women built up numerous hosts in Egypt. When their husbands were weary from
crushing labor, they would go and bring them food and drink and feed them. And
they would take the mirrors, and each one would see herself with her husband in
the mirror, and would seduce them with their words, saying “Ani Na'eh Mimcha-I am prettier than you.” And thus
they would bring their husbands to desire them, and they would couple with
them, and become pregnant, and bear them children. As is said, “under the apple
tree I aroused you” (Song of Songs 8:5)".
What a strange and unique gift. What makes this even more
interesting is that the Kiyor/basin was not even one official vessels that was
used for a service in the Temple. In fact there were times in the Temple itself
they would just pour water on the Kohen. The basin rather was used as a preparatory vessel
to give one the proper purity and included in that, the right frame of mind to
enter the Tabernacle. And it seems to all start with those mirrors that were
used back in Egypt to seduce their men with. One last added point of interest
is that the Mishkan we are told was meant to be a place of atonement that
followed the debacle of the golden calf. The women, our sages tell us did not
participate in that sin, and yet it is their donation for this seemingly
non-essential fixture that Hashem calls more dear then even the ark, the menorah
or the sacrificial altar. What is so special about these mirrors?
The
answer can perhaps be found in the strange words of seduction that the women
used. They would hold them in front of their husbands so that both of them can
be seen at the same time and then they would say "I am more beautiful
than you". Now perhaps I am a little self-conscious and need more
ego-stroking than others, but frankly those do not seem to be words that would necessarily
motivate me. What ever happened to you're so handsome? The beard and mustache
are really amazing! If you ask me most guys would respond more to being shown
that they are more beautiful than being told by their wives that we're not. We
know that they are more beautiful than us it's pretty much (excuse the pun) one
of the reasons we married them and not our best friends from yeshiva.
Yet if
one looks deeper into Rashi perhaps the words can be translated differently. The
word Ani Na'eh Mimcha- can
also be read as I am beautiful from you- because of you. It is you, my
husband that makes me feel and appear beautiful. Look at the two of us together
in this mirror. Our inner beauty that radiates in our reflection is when we are
joined and when each of us sees one another, the two of us together rather than
just ourselves in that mirror. When I see myself- I see that beauty you gave to
me and when you see yourself you should see the same.
The women donated these mirrors for their
husbands who had sinned at the golden calf- which the Medrash describes was like
a bride who strays right after their wedding chupah with Hashem at Mt.
Sinai when we received the Torah. They were given in order that they see those
mirrors and remember to reflect on the sanctity of our special relationship. We
sinned because we were only seeing ourselves. We felt that we had to create a
new leader to replace Moshe. We were not worthy enough to come close to Hashem
ourselves. We needed something in between. It was all on us. The mirrors remind
us that when we come to the Tabernacle to serve Hashem, that we need not worry
or carry the burden-just as our holy wives have given us the strength and
desire to understand- "His beauty comes from us". Hashem so appropriately
tells Moshe- This is the dearest of all the vessels; more than the all the
service, sacrifices and gold of the temple that they will do for me. This knowledge
is the foundation… the living water… that they prepare themselves with and see
their reflection and mine in there as well telling them "My beauty
comes from you". He is only great when we know how special we are to
him. We can only become our greatest and become the nation we were meant to
become when we know that our beauty as well comes only from Him.
An anniversary is a time of reflection. One looks
in the mirror (if you're brave enough) after 19 years and you think about who
and what you have become…what you still want to do. As I look back at my mirror
this year, more than ever, I see the reflection of my wife (who’s resting up at
her mother's house now…while I watch the kids… don't worry they're sleeping…happy
anniversary dear) and recognize that all that I have and the blessing and
beauty is from her. I also see in that mirror the love of Hashem. Our sages
tell us that when there is peace in a home it is a sign that the
shechina/heavenly presence is there as well. As I look at my beautiful
children, the special gifts Hashem has granted the two of us, I see the Divine
in the reflection of their faces…which are the reflection of the two of us…which
is a reflection of our loving Father. They are our holy mirrors; the place
where we can see the beauty that has come from their three partners.
This week as we welcome the new month of
Nissan, the month when we were chosen as the beloved of Hashem, we prepare to
celebrate our national anniversary on Pesach. As we clean and scrub and remove
all of that personal self created ego that is represented by the chametz that we
cleanse ourselves from, it is also important to take a break and appreciate that
inner beauty that Hashem has endowed in each of us. May this anniversary month
once again turn into a redemption month and may we once again soon be able to
gaze into those loving mirrors of holiness in our temple rebuilt.
Have a perfectly
magnificent Shabbos
Rabbi
Ephraim Schwartz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztxtY3iCIxM
************************************
RABBI
SCHWARTZES TOUR GUIDE COURSE QUESTION OF THE WEEK
(answer below)
Among the following
Nabatean cities, which of the following is the most Eastern most?
(a) Memphis (Mamshit)
(b) Mo'ah
(c) Avdat
(d) Shivta
Tel Shilo- After
reading all of these Parshiyot of the Tabernacle a trip to the ancient city of
Shilo in the hills of the Shomron (north of Beth-El) and the tribe of Ephraim is
just the place to visit. The ancient city the home of the mishkan for 369 years
can be visited today and one can see the bedrock carved out where many
archeologists suggest the mishkan rested as many sacrificial bones from that
period were found there. Climbing to the top of the tel one can look out and
read the story of Eli Hakohein who was sitting here when he was told that the
ark and his children were lost in battle and who fell and died from the shock.
This is the place as well where the prophet Shmuel was raised and the famous
prayer of his mother Chana was first said. There is a movie that can be seen here
as well ancient synagogues (and byzantine churches-which is a sign that they
also had a tradition this was a sacred
spot).
A short hop over to the modern city of Shilo is worthwhile as well as one can
see the truly beautiful synagogue that is designed in the shape of the mishkan
with incredible artistic symbolism to remember our holy Tabernacle as well.
******************************RABBI SCHWARTZ MIRROR JOKE OF THE WEEK
Two simpletons from the city of chelm are walking down the street when one of them looks down and finds a mirror.
He picks it up, looks into it, and says, “WOW! I know this person. I’ve seen this person somewhere before…”
The other chelmite takes the mirror, looks into it, and says, “Duh, of course you have. That’s me!”
**********************
Answer
Answer
is B- Mo'ah is the
eastern most of the nabatean sites in Israel. The other three cities mentioned
have been recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites being of significance as
major cities along the spice trail that was run by these desert nomads from Africa
to the coast of Gaza and out to the world from the first century BC until the
the 2nd CE. Mo'ah a lesser site located on the modern day southeastern
border of Israel was a Ch'an or inn where those who traveled throughout the
desert could find , water and food.
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