D'Var Torah - Parshas Tzav - 5762
The Korbon Oleh (Elevation Offering) was
brought when a man or woman wanted to express his/her love and closeness to
Hashem (G-d). How fortunate we are to have the mitzvah vehicles and ability
to foster our devotion to Hashem. Some erroneously consider Mitzvos (Torah
Commandments) to be a burden, while in fact they are a precious opportunity,
as the following true story illustrates:
It is said that when the Vilna Gaon lay dying, he held on to his
tzitzis (tzitzis are strings attached to a Jewish prayer shawl) and began to
weep. His disciples, standing around, were astonished. "Surely after living
such a pious life and contributing so much to Torah learning you cannot be
afraid of what awaits you in the next world, Rabbi!" they said. "Why are you
crying?"
He looked up and answered, "Because here on this Earth, while alive,
with just a little string I can fulfill one of G-d's mitzvoth, Tzitzis. No
matter how fabulous the next world is, I will not be able to do that there."
We can never overlook the small stuff. Here, on this earth, with the
right mind set, everything is possible. You can even follow Hashem's
commandments with just a little string if you think of it. Sometimes even
just a penny fulfills the commandment of Tzedakah. A simple smile can fulfill
the mitzvah of chesed (kindness). This is a wonderful world of boundless
opportunity.
The above story was submitted by Dr. Al Salganick and documented in the
Artscroll Vilna Gaon biography.
The Kohain performed the offerings in the Temple for other Jews and for the
community at large. There was however one atonement offering, known as the
minchas kohain, which he paid for with his own money and gave for himself.
The reason for the minchas kohain is in keeping with the Talmudic dictum,
"k'shote atzm'cha v'acherkach k'shote acherim" "Adorn yourself and
afterwards adorn others." (Sanhedrin 18A) The kohain was advocating the
atonement of the people so he first had to gain atonement for himself.
When Avraham was given the commandment of bris milah (circumcision) he
consulted Mamre as to how he could get all of his household to
participate in this mitzvah. Mamre told him to first do the bris to
himself, then others would follow. Reb Yisroel Salanter said that when
he was young he wanted to change the world. He soon realized that first he
had to change his community. He soon discovered that he first needed to
change his family, till he finally realized that in order to do that he had
to change himself. When trains were first invented a group of students took
their Rebbe to a railroad station to see this new wonder. Upon seeing the
mighty locomotive the Rebbe remarked, "Ein heiser ken shleppen asach
kalters" "One hot one can pull many cold ones." If you have the fiery
passion of Torah and mitzvos you can attract rather than convince others to
follow. Your conviction and dedication will inspire others in your family
and community to want to do it themselves.