THE KABBALAH OF WEDDING GIFTS
Nasso
Why is it customary to give gifts to a Chosson and Kallah for their marriage and what deeper purpose to they serve?
At the end of Parshas Nasso we read the Chanukas Hamizbeach, the inauguration or induction of the Mizbeach in the Mishkan.
The daily, ongoing Avodah that was performed on the Mizbeach was the Korbanos. This Avodah entailed taking animals and elevating on high as they were burned up by the fire of the altar. In a broader sense, it represents the elevation of physicality and our own personal animalism to become holy, uniting physicality and spirituality.
In order to be able to affect this Avodah in an ongoing manner, the Mizbeach required a Chinuch. The need for this Chinuch is because our sages teach that “all beginnings are difficult”. In order to have the power and strength to begin its life-long Avodah, the Mizbeach required something more powerful than just the regular Avodah; a one-off extra boost of energy.
This was in the form of the gifts brought by the princes of the Tribes. One of the inauguration gifts given by each Nasi, was a golden spoon filled with Ketores.
In the Temple Avodah, Ketores would be burned each day, but only ever on the inner altar. The Ketores brought by the princes was offered on the external altar, the only time that this was ever done.
This offering of Ketores on the outer Mizbeach when the Mishkan was first setup, was the Chinuch. The Ketores is more lofty than the Korbanos , evidenced by the fact that it was brought on the inner altar whereas the Korbanos were on the external altar.
The Korbanos are likened to food and are referred to as Lechem, the bread of Hashem. When we eat food, it becomes ingested and internalised. The Korbanos elicit the G-dly that is internalised within the worlds, each according to its level. This light is referred to as Memaleh Kol Almin.
In contrast, fragrance is something that is not internalised. Fragrance pervades and surrounds us. The Ketores elicits the Divine light of Sovev Kol Almin, the light that transcends the worlds entirely. This is a much loftier Hamshacha.
Offering the Ketores of the Nesiim drew down this transcendent light into the sacrificial altar, to give it the ability to effect the daily ongoing Avodah of Korbanos, elevating the physicality and animalism of the world.
The Alter Rebbe explains that this is why we give gifts to a bride and groom on their wedding.
As male and female, husband and wife are two opposites; not only physically, but in their spiritual nature as well. Marriage is about the two becoming one, to unite together in peace, harmony and oneness. This is their life-long Avodah and it can be daunting and challenging.
The gifts that we give to the Chosson and Kallah and the joy that it brings them, are like the gifts of the Nesiim. They are the Chinuch that provides the extra-boost of joy and positivity that will help the Chosson and Kallah as they take their first, ‘difficult’ steps together, setting them on the path of their lifelong journey of growing together to become one.
At the end of Parshas Nasso we read the Chanukas Hamizbeach, the inauguration or induction of the Mizbeach in the Mishkan.
The daily, ongoing Avodah that was performed on the Mizbeach was the Korbanos. This Avodah entailed taking animals and elevating on high as they were burned up by the fire of the altar. In a broader sense, it represents the elevation of physicality and our own personal animalism to become holy, uniting physicality and spirituality.
In order to be able to affect this Avodah in an ongoing manner, the Mizbeach required a Chinuch. The need for this Chinuch is because our sages teach that “all beginnings are difficult”. In order to have the power and strength to begin its life-long Avodah, the Mizbeach required something more powerful than just the regular Avodah; a one-off extra boost of energy.
This was in the form of the gifts brought by the princes of the Tribes. One of the inauguration gifts given by each Nasi, was a golden spoon filled with Ketores.
In the Temple Avodah, Ketores would be burned each day, but only ever on the inner altar. The Ketores brought by the princes was offered on the external altar, the only time that this was ever done.
This offering of Ketores on the outer Mizbeach when the Mishkan was first setup, was the Chinuch. The Ketores is more lofty than the Korbanos , evidenced by the fact that it was brought on the inner altar whereas the Korbanos were on the external altar.
The Korbanos are likened to food and are referred to as Lechem, the bread of Hashem. When we eat food, it becomes ingested and internalised. The Korbanos elicit the G-dly that is internalised within the worlds, each according to its level. This light is referred to as Memaleh Kol Almin.
In contrast, fragrance is something that is not internalised. Fragrance pervades and surrounds us. The Ketores elicits the Divine light of Sovev Kol Almin, the light that transcends the worlds entirely. This is a much loftier Hamshacha.
Offering the Ketores of the Nesiim drew down this transcendent light into the sacrificial altar, to give it the ability to effect the daily ongoing Avodah of Korbanos, elevating the physicality and animalism of the world.
The Alter Rebbe explains that this is why we give gifts to a bride and groom on their wedding.
As male and female, husband and wife are two opposites; not only physically, but in their spiritual nature as well. Marriage is about the two becoming one, to unite together in peace, harmony and oneness. This is their life-long Avodah and it can be daunting and challenging.
The gifts that we give to the Chosson and Kallah and the joy that it brings them, are like the gifts of the Nesiim. They are the Chinuch that provides the extra-boost of joy and positivity that will help the Chosson and Kallah as they take their first, ‘difficult’ steps together, setting them on the path of their lifelong journey of growing together to become one.