Da'at Tevunot - The Knowing Heart
Section 5, Chapter 7
Ramchal reiterates the point here, though, that everything can play a role
in elevating the world in potential, in stirring and sanctifying G-d’s Glory
in the process, and in drawing us close to His presence [1].
That possibility was best illustrated by the role the High Priest (Kohen
HaGadol) played in the ancient Holy Temple, especially when it came to the
daily Tamid offering. For, offering it entailed sacrificing all of the
animal’s blood and body-parts (see Numbers 28:2), along with all the various
vegetable, mineral, and human elements inherent to all the sacrifices (i.e.,
the flour, the salt, and the intentions the one who offers the sacrifice has
in mind). So, by doing all that the High Priest was able to dedicate all of
those various elements to G-d, as we’re expected to do in our daily lives.
That ability set the High Priests apart from the rest of the priests
(cohanim), in fact. As Ramchal puts it, the High priests were able to “set
out to connect all of creation to its Creator, and they knew just what they
needed to accomplish this”. Thus, everything they did in the process was
dedicated to fulfilling the needs “of deep mysteries, and to perfecting all
of creation by (enabling it to) cling unto its Creator” on a very arcane --
and ironically, a very mundane -- level.
Still and all, we too are to sanctify each and everything we do in much the
same way, and to thus draw close to G-d through the everyday things we come
into contact with, and to underscore G-d’s assertion that His presence
“fill(s) heaven and earth” (Jeremiah 23:24). For, we’re taught that G-d
desires a dwelling-place in the lower worlds (Midrash Rabbah), so we’re each
expected to welcome Him into it and to thus sanctify everyday things to Him
by “introducing” them to Him.
Now, that’s not to deny the unique actions of the righteous, who play yet
another role in this whole phenomenon as we’ll see, though.
[1] For Kabbalistic references in this chapter see Klallim Rishonim 33,
R’ Goldblatt’s note 22, and R’ Shriki’s notes 140-141.
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has translated and commented upon "The Gates of Repentance", "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason
Aronson Publishers). His works are available in bookstores and in various
locations on the Web.
