BURN IT LOW 'N' SLOW
Acharei Mos
The pinnacle of the Avodah of Yom Kippur was when the Kohen Gadol would enter the Kodesh Hakodoshim to offer the Ketores. He would place a panful of glowing coals on the floor between the poles of the Aron and sprinkle the Ketores onto the coals. The Ketores, which included the Maaleh Ashan ingredient would produce a smoke that would rise up and fill the room.
Our Sages teach that the Kohen Gadol should not scatter the incense over the coal so that the smoke would rise quickly. Rather he should place the Ketores in one pile on top of the coals, so that the smoke will take a longer time to rise.
Chassidus teaches us that there are deeper levels and meanings to every Mitzvah and detail in the Torah. Whilst the physical aspect of the Mitzvah of the Ketores on Yom Kippur can no linger be observed, the inner, spiritual lessons in Avodas Hashem remain.
Whilst the physical Mitzvah could only be observed by the Kohen Gadol, when it comes to the inner dimension of the Mitzvah, we all become the Kohen Gadol in the Kodesh Hakodoshim.
The Ketores (coming from the word קטר, which means a knot) represents the deep oneness between Hashem and the Jewish people. This union takes place in the Kodesh Hakodoshim, which is referred to in Tanach as the Chadar Hamitos, the bedroom, which is the private space where the bonds of intimacy take place.
Chassidus and Kabbalah draw on the relationship between husband and wife as a metaphor for the relationship between Hashem and Jewish people. Just as the union of husband and wife produces offspring, our union with Hashem creates spiritual offspring.
Concerning conception, our sages teach “When a woman gives seed first, she will give birth to a male. When a man gives seed first, she will give birth to a female”.
The result of our deep connection to Hashem is the ‘birth’ of emotional experience – our feelings of love and awe for Him.
Our connection with Hashem can be initiated in one of two ways. It can be initiated ‘from below to above’ through our own efforts in meaningful Avodah to draw closer to Him. It can also be aroused by a powerful G-dly revelation ‘from above to below,’ initiated by Hashem as He draws close to us.
When our union with Hashem is initiated through our own Avodah (the ‘woman’), it creates strong, deep and enduring emotions, represented by the strength of male offspring. This Avodah takes much time and effort in Hisbonenus, meditation on the greatness of Hashem.
It is ‘quicker’ and easier when the union comes from a direct revelation from Above (the ‘Man’), but the emotions that this arouses within us will be weaker, represented by the female offspring. This connection (קטר) would be like scattering the Ketores on the coals, which would cause the Ketores to burn quickly.
The Halacha is that the Kohen Gadol had to pile the Ketores on the coals so that it would burn slowly. The sages are teaching us that to be truly meaningful and lasting, the deep connection that we attain on Yom Kippur, has to come through our own, slow and focused efforts.
~ Based on the writings of the Tzemach Tzedek in Or Hatorah Vayikra 1 page 284
Our Sages teach that the Kohen Gadol should not scatter the incense over the coal so that the smoke would rise quickly. Rather he should place the Ketores in one pile on top of the coals, so that the smoke will take a longer time to rise.
Chassidus teaches us that there are deeper levels and meanings to every Mitzvah and detail in the Torah. Whilst the physical aspect of the Mitzvah of the Ketores on Yom Kippur can no linger be observed, the inner, spiritual lessons in Avodas Hashem remain.
Whilst the physical Mitzvah could only be observed by the Kohen Gadol, when it comes to the inner dimension of the Mitzvah, we all become the Kohen Gadol in the Kodesh Hakodoshim.
The Ketores (coming from the word קטר, which means a knot) represents the deep oneness between Hashem and the Jewish people. This union takes place in the Kodesh Hakodoshim, which is referred to in Tanach as the Chadar Hamitos, the bedroom, which is the private space where the bonds of intimacy take place.
Chassidus and Kabbalah draw on the relationship between husband and wife as a metaphor for the relationship between Hashem and Jewish people. Just as the union of husband and wife produces offspring, our union with Hashem creates spiritual offspring.
Concerning conception, our sages teach “When a woman gives seed first, she will give birth to a male. When a man gives seed first, she will give birth to a female”.
The result of our deep connection to Hashem is the ‘birth’ of emotional experience – our feelings of love and awe for Him.
Our connection with Hashem can be initiated in one of two ways. It can be initiated ‘from below to above’ through our own efforts in meaningful Avodah to draw closer to Him. It can also be aroused by a powerful G-dly revelation ‘from above to below,’ initiated by Hashem as He draws close to us.
When our union with Hashem is initiated through our own Avodah (the ‘woman’), it creates strong, deep and enduring emotions, represented by the strength of male offspring. This Avodah takes much time and effort in Hisbonenus, meditation on the greatness of Hashem.
It is ‘quicker’ and easier when the union comes from a direct revelation from Above (the ‘Man’), but the emotions that this arouses within us will be weaker, represented by the female offspring. This connection (קטר) would be like scattering the Ketores on the coals, which would cause the Ketores to burn quickly.
The Halacha is that the Kohen Gadol had to pile the Ketores on the coals so that it would burn slowly. The sages are teaching us that to be truly meaningful and lasting, the deep connection that we attain on Yom Kippur, has to come through our own, slow and focused efforts.
~ Based on the writings of the Tzemach Tzedek in Or Hatorah Vayikra 1 page 284