How To Get Closer

Print          Vayikra          Pesach

In the beginning of this week's parsha, Vayikra, it says, "If a person will bring near from (amongst) you an offering to Hashem, from the animal, from cattle and from sheep." Why is it said in such a strange way? Wouldn't it make more sense to say, "If a person from (amongst) you will bring near an offering to Hashem."? 

With this small anomaly the Torah teaches us how to bring a spiritual offering, that it has to be "from you." This means that it's not enough for your neshama to be for Hashem, but you also have to offer your animal, your body and animal soul, from the actual "you." As the Alter Rebbe explains the verse, When a person wants to come closer to Hashem, it has to be "from you an offering to Hashem," You have to offer from your own self. 

This is the whole idea of the Mishkan and the Temple and its service, to take the most physical and elevate it to Hashem, to make it into a home for Him. And this is also true about the offerings as we know that the sacrifices had a spiritual component to them. As the Zohar says, "That Kohanim (do their service) quietly and with devotion of the heart and the Leviim with song and music."

What is the process of bringing an offering? First you would have to check the animal thoroughly, making sure that it had no blemishes, and only then was it wanted by Hashem. 

The same is true with us, if we want to get closer to Hashem, we first have to look deep into ourselves and find our blemishes, the things that put up walls between us and Hashem, like sins, and we have to correct them through teshuva. Then we are fit to come closer to Him. 

How do we bring our bodies and animal souls closer to Hashem? By bending the will of the body and animal soul to follow the way of Hashem, instead of what it naturally wants to do, which is animalistic. You don't have to destroy the body, the body should be healthy and intact, just that it should follow the neshama, not only Torah and Mitzvos, but to make the mundane daily activities holy, to " Acknowledge Hashem in all your ways." That even things like eating, drinking, sleeping, etc., like on Shabbos when all these activities are holy. 

When you do this, you connect to the essence of Hashem, higher than the name Havaya, as it says about the sacrifices, "before Havaya," higher than Havaya, to the essence of Hashem. 

At this time of crisis it's incumbent upon each of us to repair our relationships with our spouses, family and friends. Especially now that there is a real worldwide decree, we truly need each other and we are stuck with one another, wouldn't it be nice to come out of this stronger and closer than ever. 

It is a process. First you have to search your past and mend the blemishes that you caused in the relationship, and usually it is a two way street, you both have some blemishes to repair. Then you have to ask for forgiveness and you have to mean it with all of your heart, so much so that the other will feel it. Then comes giving of yourself, building and strengthening the relationship. 

If you will do this, you can take your relationship and love to a higher place than it's ever been before. And even if it doesn't, it will surely be better than before, and that is a step in the right direction, and on the way to true harmony. 

We must bring ourselves closer to Hashem and we must strengthen our bonds with the ones we love, if we do, then everything that we do will be so much more effective, because Hashem loves when we are united. Certainly He will hear our prayers, and bring this crisis to an end. May it happen soon. 

Dedicated to our daughter Chava who is celebrating her birthday this week, we love you and we are proud of you.