Rabbi's Message (2/1/2010)

'ld like to share with you one of my most favourite Divrei Torah which captures the essence of our shul.


One of the most magnificent sites that one could imagine was seeing the Kohen Gadol dressed in his majestic Bigdei Kehunah, those beautiful holy garments spun of the finest wool intermeshed with threads of gold. The designer of these clothes was of course Hakadosh Baruch Hu, the designer of the world. The commentaries struggle to find the messages that are hidden within these holy begadim. It is interesting to note that one of these garments, the me-il, its design is clearly stated in the Torah and the reason for the designs are explicitly taught to us in the pesukim found in Parshat Tetzaveh. In Chapter 28, Verse 33, the Torah says "You shall make on its hem pommegranates of turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, on its hem all around. And gold bells between them all around." In Verse 35, the Torah continues "Its sounds shall be heard when he enters the sanctuary before Hashem the way he leaves" The commentaries explain this to mean that the Kohen must know that he is about to walk into a holy abode, the kings palace. It is only proper to "knock on the door, and seek permission before one enters, the bells are his knock on the door."


The Gemarah in pesachim, page 112 A relates that when the great Tannah, R'Yehoshua would enter his own home, his practice was always to knock on the door before entering. The Rashbam cites a Midrash Rabbah which teaches us that the basis of this practise were the verses in our parsha regarding the Kohen Gadol and the bells that were on his long turqoise robe (me-il). The commentaries have difficulty understanding R' Yehoshuas logic. Clearly the reason why the Kohen Gadol had to announce his entry was because he was walking into G-d's house. But R' Yehoshua was walking into his own home. How did R' Yehoshua derive this lesson in derech eretz from the Kohen?


The Meforshim explain:What R' Yehoshua understood is that although the Kohen Gadol was walking into the palace of the king, the Kohen Gadol had another relationship with the Beit Hamikdash. It was also his own home. The Kohen Gadol understood that G-d allows us to share His home and to make it ours.


The same applies to our shuls and places of tefillah. Although we treat our Shuls with the outmost respect and understand that the Shul is the house of G-d, it is our home as well. And in a home, one finds comfort - and so, we find comfort in our Shuls.


Our Shul is a home for all Jews who want to find a place to seek comfort and to connect themselves to Hashem. It is a place where people grow in Ruchniyot, spirituality, a place where people feel Ahavat Yisrael, love for each other, and a place to study Torah. If anyone is interested in spending a Shabbat in Hewlett, it would be my greatest honor to open my home to you, and allow you to share in the excitement and love of our Kehillah.


Please contact me at any time at 516 668 6554.