Rabbi Frand on Parshas Vayikra
This dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 186, Shalach
Monos and Other Purim Issues. Good Shabbos!
Sanctifying Oneself Through The Physical
The Medrash in this week's parsha says, "Rabbi Yochanan said, G-d only
reveals himself to idolaters at night -- a time when people separate from
one another -- as it is written 'G-d came to Avimelech in a dream at night'
[Bereshis 20:3] or 'G-d came to Bilaam at night' [Bamidbar 22:20]. However,
G-d reveals Himself to Jewish prophets during the day, as it is written 'And
he sat at the opening of the tent in the heat of the day [Bereshis 18:1]'."
What is the meaning of this Medrash? The Ateres Mordechai explains that
this Medrash is telling us a very significant difference between Judaism
and other religions. Many religions believe in a basic dichotomy between
the physical and spiritual. They believe that if a person really wants to
reach the highest levels of spirituality, he must separate himself from
physical things, be celibate, become a monk. The more separate a person can
become, the more holy he can become.
Judaism teaches us just the opposite. Torah teaches that the highest form
of holiness comes through material matters. As the Kotzker Rebbe explains
"V'ANSHEI-Kodesh Te'heyu Li" -- holy PEOPLE you shall be to Me. I want you
to be both 'holy' and 'people', not holy angels. That is why we believe
that a person can sanctify that which is physical. He can take a meal and
make it into a Shabbos meal. He can take any act and elevate it to a higher
form. That is our goal. "Through all your paths, know Him" [Mishlei 3:6].
By infusing all of our activities -- our eating and sleeping and drinking
and work -- with holiness, we can become close to G-d.
This is precisely the meaning of the Medrash. G-d must come to Bilaam the
idolater at night, at a time when people are separated from one another and
when physical activity is on the wane. Only then can Bilaam deal with
spirituality. Otherwise he is not able to deal with the conflict between the
spiritual and the physical. But G-d can come to a Jewish prophet, l'havdil,
even during the day, when the prophet is occupied with daily activities.
Even in the midst of all that, there can be spirituality.
This is a powerful ethical teaching. The essence of a Jew's life is about
taking his daily activities -- the accounting and the doctoring and the
practicing of law -- and infusing them with a Kedusha [Holiness]. Every act
that a person does should be for the sake of Heaven.
Glossary
l'havdil -- to distinguish (between two very different things)
Sources and Personalities
Ateres Mordechai -- Rav Mordechai Rogov, former Rosh Yeshiva in Beis Medrash
L'Torah, Skokie, Illinois.
Kotzker Rebbe-- Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859), Poland.
This week's write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi
Yissochar Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tapes on the weekly Torah
portion (#186). The corresponding halachic portion for this tape is:
Shalach Monos and Other Purim Issues. The other halachic portions for Parshas Vayikra from the Commuter Chavrusah Series are:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from
Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
