THE BURNING HEART
Everything in the Torah is eternally relevant. Although there are many details which are time sensitive, nevertheless, the principles of those details remain relevant for all time. One such example are the Korbanos (offerings) which are enumerated in this week’s Parsha, Tzav. Although Korbanos no longer apply today as there is no Bais Hamikdosh, nevertheless, the principles upon which Korbanos are based are timeless and relevant in every time.
With the offering of daily Tamid korban there were designated people who would pray during its presentation. Our Sages teach us that were it not for those prayers, heaven and earth would not exist. Behold, it is the tefilla which accompanied the offering which played the critical role in making the Tamid effective. The korban attached itself to the tefilla and was elevated through the tefilla, the primary elevation was a function of the tefilla. The very name, korban, derives from “l’karev” to bring oneself close to HaShem. It is the desire to bring oneself close to HaShem and the words which express that desire which are what bring man closer to Ha-Shem, not the mere animal.
With this we can understand why the Torah states that “the fire of the mizbayach should be kept aflame in it”, it does not state that the flame must be kept on it, but in it. The mizbayach is a reference to Man’s heart. Man’s heart is the place which elevates the korban. It is the burning desire to connect to HaShem which elevates the offering that is placed upon the mizbayach. This burning fire, the passion is not on the mizbayach, but rather in the mizbayach, in the heart of Man.
Perhaps when the Torah instructs us to make sure that the fire of the mizbayach should not be extinguished, it is actually in-structing us to never allow one’s passion to connect to HaShem to cool down. As Dovid Hamelech fills his Tehillim with ex-pressions of longing for closeness to HaShem. There is nothing more important in his life than closeness.
When the Psalmist writes “the korban of HaShem is a broken heart” the understanding is not that HaShem enjoys broken hearts, there is nothing further from the correct understanding. Rather, a broken heart is a heart that longs and pines for a relationship. Even when the heart connects to HaShem it yearns for yet more. It is the fire of such a heart that elevates the offerings that are brought upon it.
The difficulty of successful prayer is igniting that flame. To inspire the heart to turn longingly to HaShem is the trick. Once the flame is lit we can elevate so much Heavenward.
Each advancing day of our current odyssey presents another reason to turn to HaShem with a longing heart. First we were sent away from our shuls and then outdoor minyanim were prohibited and then we were not able to be joined by our family at the Seder. And alas, we are not even allowed to host single folks and they must make their own Seder all alone!
How much HaShem wants to come running towards us with outstretched arms ready to embrace. But how would it look if we are not running towards Him with our arms outstretched ready to be scooped up by Papa? Perhaps He is inspiring us to long for Him and to move us in that direction.
May HaShem bring this period of distancing quickly to its end and usher in the next period of embracing.
Have a safe and wonderful Shabbos Hagadol.
Paysach Diskind