Tetzaveh – 5752 (2)

 

KETORES

The lighting of the Ketores (incense in the Holy by the Cohen Gadol) was after he prepared five of the candles of the menorah.)

MISHKAN – AVODAH

Everything that exists in the Mishkan and the Mikdash are both within us, as well as important spiritual exercises.

MIZBEACH/ALTAR

Our sages state that the golden Mizbeich (Altar upon which they offered the incense) corresponded to man’s soul while the copper Mizebeach (Altar upon which they offered animals corresponds to man’s body) – just as the body received pleasure from eating…. and the golden Mizbeach which offered fragrance corresponds to the soul (which receives pleasure from scent.)

KETOIRES/MERGING (WITH GOD)

The sacrifice of our body brings us close to God, but the incense is the ultimate – becoming one (merging with God.)

KETOIRES/INCENSE

From this we see that the incense represents the ultimate purpose of the Holy Temple.

MISHKAN/MIKDASH – CONNECTING WITH GOD

The verse states the entire point of the Mishkan, “I will make myself know to the Jewish people.”

 

This represents the infinite intimate Divine connection.

 

This connection is with the essence of God.

KETOIRES DAILY

When we say our daily ketoires, this is similar to the unique moment, as the Cohen Gadol would be alone in the Holy – representing our intrinsic unity with God.

MENORAH/SOULS

The lights of the Menorah refer to the Jewish souls that their preparation and kindling is through the light of Torah and the Mitzvos.

PURPOSE ON EARTH

The point of the Menorah was also to spread light to the entire world; and similarly the Jew.

 

DAILY CONNECTION

Just as in the Mishkan there was a daily Ketoires offering so too as every day, we are renewed, we must also renew the knowledge that God and I are one – this is the essence of life and our mission.

 

We then take this knowledge (mainly incorporated during Shema and Shemoina Esrie) and we live our daily ethical existence.