HARDWIRED
This week’s Parsha, Vayikra, opens with the laws of the offerings that are to be brought in the Mishkan. Right from the beginning the Torah indicates that every Jew can bring an offering, whether or not he is righteous. The only Jew who may not bring an offering is the one who totally rejects HaShem. In the very same verse, however, the Torah indicates that regarding a non-Jew there are no qualifications; every non-Jew may bring an offering, the non-Jew who accepts HaShem as well as the non-Jew who re-jects HaShem. The reason given why we accept the offering of the non-Jewish atheist is to bring him closer to HaShem.
The word ‘korban’ offering, derives from the word ‘l’karev’ which means to bring near. The reason for this name is because when one brings an offering in the Bais Hamikdosh, he brings himself with his offering close to HaShem. Being in such close proximity of HaShem’s Presence arouses in every person the inspiration which can carry him to levels of closeness to HaShem. This is the reason we accept the offerings even from an atheistic non-Jew. Perhaps he will be inspired through the experience.
So, why do we reject the offerings from the Jewish atheist? Perhaps he too will be in-spired just as the non-Jew? There are plenty of stories of Jews who came back to Ha-Shem later in life and even in the Holocaust there are stories of atheists who under the pressure of the war, returned to HaShem.
In the first verse that we will read in the Haftorah we find Yeshayahu telling his people in the name of HaShem “This nation I have formed for Myself, they shall relate My praises.” This beautiful verse is followed by the prophet reprimanding them for closing the doors of the Bais Hamikdosh and terminating the offerings. The message Yeshayahu is telling his people is that although they are not living up to their national mission now, as they are not relating the praises of HaShem, nevertheless he knows that they will discover themselves and return to their mission at some later date, because that was the reason for HaShem’s forming them into a nation. HaShem’s plan will certainly come to fruition.
Behold! Yeshayahu is telling his people that although the gates of their offerings have been closed they will still be inspired to return and their mission will be achieved. How will that happen? Be-cause HaShem formed this nation for the sole purpose of singing the praises of HaShem. The Jewish people have been hard-wired, and in the core of their guts they yearn to sing the praises of Ha-Shem. In the core of every Jew there lies a spark of HaShem’s Holiness. It just needs the right moment, the right experience and it jumps into action.
If a Jew, who is carrying a spark of HaShem rejects HaShem, bringing an offering in the close proximity of the Bais Hamikdosh will not add anything more than he already has. We therefore do not accept his offerings – nothing will be accomplished. If, however, this Jew travels through an experience which speaks to his inner core, even if that experience is far from HaShem’s Presence, that holy spark which lies deep inside of him will jump into existence.
Before bringing the final day of our exile, when HaShem will open His great arms to embrace us. He wants the spark of every one of His beloved children to jump into action. He wants to inspire us to His closeness and endearment. The current odyssey on which all of mankind has embarked presents so many challenges to every single person. Each of these challenges are opportunities that can open the Jew to his core inner spark.
As we read Yeshayahu’s opening verse this Shabbos , may we discover the incredible potential that lies within every Jew to draw ourselves close to Him even without the Bais Hamikdosh and even without a shul or a minyan.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind