Tzav 5775 March 27, 2015 A Taste of Torah Stories For The Soul Fan The Flames Have A Great Shabbos By Rabbi Eli Mozes Yaakov Yosef Herman (1880-1967) With the clarion call of the trumpet, (Temple), was a location where we was a pious Jew who lived in New the peaceful encampment kicked into high experienced the Divine Presence. However, York City during the first decades gear. Housewives hurriedly packed their there was an important distinction between of the 20th century. Despite many belongings as their husbands disassembled the two; while the Bais Hamikdash was a challenges, he steadfastly adhered to the tents. Over at the Mishkan (Tabernacle), complete structure with a defined location, the Torah and its mitzvos, and raised a the Kohanim (priests) and Levi’im (Levites) the Mishkan was a portable structure which family devoted to G-d and His Torah. got to work taking apart the coverings and the Jewish People took with them wherever Mr. Herman was a furrier, and he walls of the Tabernacle and loading them they went. With this in mind, we can say owned a shop in Manhattan. One onto wagons. The Holy Vessels were carried that the Mishkan was the prototype for how Shabbos, a police officer appeared at on their shoulders as they headed off into to build an environment which supports the the desert to an unknown destination. The Divine Presence wherever we are. If we look his door and informed him that his Jewish People experienced this forty-one deeply into the design of the Mishkan, we can fur store was on fire. “You’d better get times throughout their forty-year sojourn in take out lessons in how to turn our homes down there as soon as possible,” said the desert. and synagogues into areas where the Divine the officer. One would think that all the Mishkan’s Presence is felt. This would explain the need Mr. Herman calmly explained to function ceased during their traveling time; for the Torah to spend so much time telling the stunned officer that today was his however, there was one constant which us the details of the Mishkan design, so that Sabbath, and he was unable to come to remained, even as they were in transit. In we can take these lessons and apply them to the store until the Sabbath ended. He this week’s parsha, it states, “An eternal our lives. then proceeded to conduct his Shabbos flame shall burn upon it (the Altar), it shall One example of this is the eternal flame. like any other, enjoying the Shabbos not be extinguished.” The Jerusalem Talmud It is one thing for us to turn our homes, meals, singing zemiros, relating Torah (Yoma 5:6) expounds that when the Jews synagogues and batei medrash (study halls) thoughts, and engaging in the prayers. traveled, the flame wasn’t extinguished; they into Divine Presence-friendly environments, After Shabbos was over, he went to would just cover it over with a large vessel. but much of our life is spent outside of survey the damage, expecting to find his One curiosity which many people these locations, oftentimes in environments shop in shambles. Except that his shop wonder about is that the Torah devotes which are beyond our control, while we are was perfectly fine! The store next door four parshios to the construction of the traveling, at work, shopping, etc. Should we had caught fire, but his was spared. Mishkan; why the need to spend so much resign ourselves to the fact that those parts This week’s Shabbos is called of the day will just be mundane, completely time discussing this one structure? This Shabbos Hagadol, the Great Shabbos, devoid of the Divine Presence? The Torah question becomes even starker when we because the Jewish People separated a teaches us that even when the Mishkan was realize how limited the intended duration sheep for the Pesach Sacrifice, knowing of the Mishkan was. Had the Jews not in transit, the eternal flame on the Altar was full well that the Egyptians would be sinned and been punished with forty years never extinguished. So, too, in our lives, we enraged, as they worshipped sheep. in the desert, they would have arrived in must ensure that even when we are in transit, Eretz Yisrael in a matter of days (see Rashi the eternal flame remains ignited. When But the Jews trusted that Hashem Deuteronomy 1:2). Granted that, even after traveling in the car, we can always take along would protect them as they fulfilled they entered Eretz Yisrael, they continued to an audio Torah class with us; even if we are His command, and the Egyptians were use the Mishkan for an additional fourteen traveling with someone else who wouldn’t be powerless to do anything. This event is years while they conquered and divided the interested in it, the very fact that is sitting in commemorated annually the Shabbos land, but fourteen years is but a blip within the glove compartment is keeping the flame before Pesach, for it is Shabbos that the context of Jewish history; why would the lit. If we take a sefer along with us to work, embodies the idea that Hashem is the Torah spend so much time describing to us even if we only glance at it for two minutes only true Power in the world. Those something which was so temporary? during our lunch break, its presence on our who are fully cognizant of the message Perhaps we can offer an explanation based desk will bring the flame into the cubicle. Be and reality of Shabbos can place their on the writings of Rabbi Aharon Levine creative and you will find many ways to fan full trust in Hashem and not worry (1879-1941). First, we must understand that the flames. about what goes on in the world. the Mishkan, just like the Bais Hamikdash Kollel Happenings Increase Your Jewish IQ By: Rabbi Yaakov Zions KOLLEL CELEBRATION Last week we asked: What are the maariv others say sim shalom at both, MEDIA CENTER four customs (all currently practiced) like the Sefardic custom. 4) Some Would you like to view the From as to when one recites the shorter have a custom to recite sim shalom at Sinai to Denver video shown blessing of shalom rav as the final mincha on Shabbos even if shalom rav at the Kollel’s 17th Anniversary blessing of Shemoneh Esrei, instead of is recited at mincha during the week. Celebration? View pictures or the the lengthier sim shalom? Commemorative Journal? Order the exclusive publication From Sinai A: 1) The Sefardic custom is to always recite the longer version of sim shalom. This week’s question: Can you to Denver? explain the reasoning for the four Visit the Kollel’s Celebration Media 2) Nusach Ashkenaz recites the shorter shalom rav at mincha and maariv. aforementioned customs of reciting Center at www.denverkollel.org, sim shalom and shalom rav? and click on the Media Center 3) Within Nusach Sefard (which is banner. not the same thing as the Sefardic To submit an answer to Rabbi Zions, custom), there are some who say sim email [email protected] The M.B. GLASSMAN shalom at mincha and shalom rav at FOUNDATION GOLD ADOPT-A- BUBBY PROGRAM Do you know of a senior – a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, neighbor, Ask the Rabbi fellow congregant – who would For Sale? benefit from a weekly phone call to schmooze, share a thought on GANZ wrote: the parsha or Jewish calendar, or Dear Rabbi, happened to be on duty at the time, just say hello? 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