Ari Goldwag - Tzav - Expansion Within Constriction

You're listening to the weekly para podcast recorded with Hashem's never ending assistance in Ram Shame Israel 5776 2016. This week's para is para and we have the beginning of the samishkan the tabernacle is about to be established. And before we have that establishment, which really is going to happen at the end of the para and the beginning of next week's para, we have all of the different commands that have to do with Aaron, Aaron, the high priest, and his children, his sons who are going to be involved with all of the carbonus, all of the sacrifices that are going to be brought inside of the Mishka, inside of the tabernacle. The Torah tells us that Arin and his sons are going to be clothed with their special vestments, the special clothing which they will use in their service of Hashem, in their service of God in the tabernacle inside of the Mishkon. And this is something which is going to be seen by the entire Jewish people. Verse tells us in chapter 8 verse one, God spoke to Moses and said, "Take Aaron and his sons together with him. and the clothing the special oil of anointing also bring with you the animals that are to be brought as part of the initiation of Aaron and his sons and the basket of matzos. Verse three gather together all of the Jewish people ales to the opening to the entrance of the tent of the moy of the tent of meeting the mishkun the tabernacle. Now, Rashi says something here which hints to an extensive which I'd like to share with you. It says like this. This is one of the places that a small area was able to hold a lot of things. Although the Jewish people physically talking about 600,000 men above the age of 20, another 600,000 under the age of 20, women, children, etc. We're talking about at least a million and a half people. All of them are going to fit into the area right at the front right the doorway of the tabernacle. Is that physically possible? The answer is no. However, this is one of the unique places where we find that a small area can hold a large number of things. In this case, a large number of people. And of course, as we read this, we need to try to understand what is the concept. What is the idea of a small space holding a large amount? What's the depth of that idea? Second thing we need to understand is why over here in this spectacle in this display that Aaron and his sons are going to be given over the kahuna. They're being given over the priesthood and we're about to establish the Mishka and the tabernacle. Why is it here that indeed the Jewish people experience an unbelievable phenomenon where all of them are able to fit into a very small area? Why is it that they have to have this experience right here at this point in time? So before we begin to understand what's going on in our parha, I'd like to share with you the medish which is in the medish raba but also the rabbai brings a maj. It's instructive to look at the different places where we see the concept of muuba a small amount can hold a large amount. The first place that we see it as the medisha brings down is actually at bracius in Genesis in the very beginning of the Torah. The verse tells us in chapter 1 vers9 all of the waters that are beneath the heavens should all be gathered to a singular place said God tells us the normal way of the world is a person will empty a full vessel into an empty vessel but that's not what happened here at the beginning of Genesis the entire world was full of water and you want the water to gather doesn't really make sense if you think about it logically. This is one of the places where you see if we want all of the water to gather even though it's impossible because it's already as gathered as it could be so to speak. Nevertheless, the water does gather. It comes into a space which it's not really possible for it to be held because it's already full. Nevertheless, the the small amount of space can hold more than is really physically possible. So this is the first place that we see the idea. And it's important to know that there's a general principle that whenever you have the first place of something, the first concept, the first place where the Torah mentions an idea, it always is the foundation of that idea. So it's very significant that we're seeing this idea brought forth and taught in regards to the waters. In regards to the waters of creation, what is the idea of that? What is the depth of the fact that this is the first teaching? What is the concept of water in this context? Why is the water that which is being brought together and gathered into a space that can't really hold it but nevertheless does hold it and defies the laws of reality. This defies the laws of physics and nevertheless the small area is able to hold a large amount. Why is it being taught here first? What's the concept in regards to water? Now I'd like to read you from the tanum which is quoting the bakai and he brings down there was a conversation between Moshenu and God. Hashem says to Moshe, "I want you to gather together all of the Jewish people to the entrance way of the Omoid of the tent of meeting to the tabernacle." And Moshe says, "Se of the world, I don't understand. You have a million and a half people here. You want me to fit them all into this very small place?" Now, the measure says, "God says to Moses, you're in wonderment about this. This is a question to you. You have a problem with this. When the heavens were created, when I created the heavens, so originally everything fit into a very very small space, it was as small as the pupil of an eye. But I stretched out all of reality from one end of the world to the other so that all of reality would be able to fit into what was that small small space. As a verse says that Hashem takes the very small the very minute the all of all of reality the heavens were this very small space and Hashem stretches it all out like an oil like a tent so that there will be enough place enough space for there to be those who wish to inhabit that area. So we see from this medish that the very reality that we exist within is a reality which seems expanded and it is expanded. However, it fits into the smallest smallest space. The pupil of an eye all of reality fits into a very small space even though it's very large spatially. So we have this amazing paradox. The med continues and says that it was the same exact thing at Mount Si. God revealed himself at Mount Simal with 22,000 chariots of angels. Massive amount of spiritual energy can't really fit into this physical world says the refers to the fact that God rides many tens of thousands of chariots as it were. Whatever this means, each one of these chariots was like the chariot that Ezekiel saw when Ezekiel had his vision. He saw God as it were sitting on his great throne, his glorious throne. So he saw these chariots, these things which enabled us or the the human being to access a spiritual experience, access God's word. How could Mount Si be able to hold this incredible spiritual energy? It was absolutely miraculous that God would speak to the mountain. God spoke to the mountain and he said, "Widen yourself, make yourself expand in order to be able to receive, to be able to hold all of these spiritual beings." So we see once again that a small area was able to hold a lot. And here it seems to be not just physically, but it seems to be even spiritually. And the question again is what's the understanding of this? Why is it happening at this point? Why is it happening at Mount Si? What is the depth of the idea that's being taught here? I want to switch back now to the measure. Measure tells us a few more places where we see this concept. Says like this we find a similar idea. The length of the courtyard of the tabernacle was 100 cubits. The width was 50 by 50. Said the entire length of the tabernacle's courtyard was 100 cubits. The entire Jewish people was able to stand within it. How could that be? This is another place where we see that there was an expansion in the physical realm to be able to hold more than was physically possible. So the Mishkon not only entering into the Mishkan so to speak as they were about to put up the Mishkon as we spoke about at the very beginning but even the Mishkon itself had that ability and we'll see also the B mikdash itself the temple itself in Jerusalem had that ability. The measure says here's another case. The Jewish people had been in the midbar had been in the wilderness for 40 years. Miriam dies. She passes away. Her merit had been that which caused the beer Miriam the special well that followed after the Jewish people that they provided them with water for their entire time. The sojourn in the in the wilderness. She passed away that merit was gone. The Jews cried out and complained we have nothing to drink. What happens is in order to provide the Jewish people with water. So there was supposed to be a whole spectacle at the rock from which God is going to bring out that water is to speak to the rock etc. the whole story. But the verse tells us that Moshe gathered all of the people the entire Jewish people to to that place right in front of the rock. How's it possible the entire Jewish people stood in one small space right in front of that rock again very interestingly this is another place where we see that a small area was able to hold a large amount and I think it's important to notice that here again we're speaking about the waters before we speaking up about the waters of creation gathering here we're speaking about the water coming from a rock in order to provide the Jewish people with that which they were were so thirsty for that life-giving water. But again, something about water has to do with the Jewish people gathering and fitting into a small space. That's what we see over here. We need to understand also what's the understanding when it comes to the tabernacle, comes to the bikdash, comes to the, you know, that there's an expansion there as well. What's that idea? Hopefully, we'll be able to connect the two and and find a common thread. Vosa the Medish continues and says we find this idea elsewhere Israel Joshua is about to bring the Jewish people over the Jordan River. They're about to experience an amazing miracle as they pass through there. But there's a miracle before they even pass through there. Rafuna says that when Joshua instructed the Jewish people to come in front of the in front of the of the ark of the covenant, there was something amazing that was about to happen. They were all the entire Jewish people was going to fit in between the two staves with which the was held. Says he placed them between the two staves. Says he squeezed them into the space between the two staves. That's what the verse means when it says this is how you will know that God is in your midst. He said to them, "Amazing thing." This is, by the way, listen to this carefully because this is a hint to what's going on. Since the two staves of the of the ark were able to hold you, you were able to all fit between those two beams. And this is Hashem speaking here. God is speaking. I know now that myina is in your midst. Amazing thing. Listen to what we're saying here. Hashem is saying I can see that myina is in your midst because of the fact that you all fit in between the two staves of the ar. What is it saying? What is what is the concept here? What is the medish teaching us? Very difficult to understand. God doesn't know now God knows what's going on. What's the idea? We'll soon see continues. This is also true inside of the temple. We know that when it came to the Jewish people inside of the B mdash in the temple, they stood there squeezed in like sardines. They were diving, they're praying, standing up. When it came time to bow down, to bow down to God, they would bow down. There would be enough room for them to bow down on the floor. The idea is again expansion. There was expansion there. There was even though it was a small space, couldn't really hold them, it was able to hold them. Last example of this love says it's going to be this way in the future as the verse says in Jeremiah 3:17 at that time in the future time when the Messiah arrives they will call Jerusalem the throne of God all of the nations will gather there they're gathering they're coming in the tells us a little story one time came he wanted to see how was and he saw that he was involved. He was studying this very this very verse. But at that time they're going to call Jerusalem the throne of God. All the nations are going to gather there and say it's not talking about for war. It's talking about they're going to gather there to serve Hashem to serve God. So asked him is it possible that Jerusalem has the capacity to hold all of the nations? He said to him, the verse tells us, it's a verse in Isaiah 54:2, let the place of your tent expand because right and left will burst forth. When Messiah comes, when the Messiah arrives, there will be space. There will be space in Jerusalem. There'll be space in Israel for all those who truly want to serve Hashem, who are going to gather together. Even though there'll be multitudes, millions and millions of people, billions of people who want to come to Jerusalem, there will be space for everyone. What is the depth of this idea? What is going on? What is the measure trying to teach us? Why is it here at the entrance of Moy at the entrance of the the erection, the putting up of the of the Mishkan of the tabernacle? Why is it that inside of the tabernacle, inside of the B mig there's an expansion? Why is it why does the Medish talk about expansion regards to water? Why is the measures talk about expansion as the Jewish people are about to enter into Israel into the land of Israel? Why is the expansion happening between the staves of the orin of the ark of the covenant? So to begin to understand what's going on here, I think that we need to look at what's happening in every single one of these places that the maj is bringing. There's a gathering that's happening. The water is being gathered into a space that shouldn't be able to hold it. Hakl is told gather together the entire Jewish people to the doorway of the tent of meeting. Mosher Rabenu was instructed gather together the Jewish people to the to the face of the cell to the to right in front of this rock from which is the water is going to be drawn forth. Joshua instructs the Jewish people gather together. Come here between the staves of the ark of the covenant. Gather together. Each and every time there's a gathering together at that time they're going to call Jerusalem the throne of God. All of the nations will gather together to that place. They will all gather together. What is the idea of gathering together? Why specifically in regards to water? The idea that we see here is that when there is unity, when there's unity amongst the Jewish people, when they're coming together to Mount Si to receive the Torah, amazing things, there's an expansion that occurs through the unity. When the Jewish people gather together, they're ready to enter into a new relationship with Hashem. They're about to put up the tabernacle. When they gather together, there's unity. There's expansion. When the Jewish people enter into the ba mikdash, into the tabernacle, into the temple in order to serve God, they're coming together as one nation, when they are unified, there's more space. When they're about to enter into the land of Israel as they're about to come in as a nation, they have unified. They've come together. They're able to fit in between the staves of the a represents the love, the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people. when there's love between Jews, when there's love between each and every one of us toward each other, where there's respect for one another, the special individual nature of each and every single Jew, when if I can respect you and you can respect me when we're in that space, so then there's expansion. And that's why Hashem says, "From the fact that I see that you fit between the two staves, God is saying an amazing thing. He's saying when I see that you have fit between the staves of the ark and you have love for each other just like those two crew and those two angelic golden figures that are on top of the ark which represent God and the Jewish people that relationship just like they are in love and they are embracing each other when the Jewish people can fit between the staves of the arm when they have that love for each other Hashem says that's when I know that myina is amongst you that's when I know that my divine presence rests upon you and we constantly see the theme whenever there's a mention of the concept of God's divine presence there's always expansion there. The bameikdash, the temple, the the mishkun, the word mishkan itself, the tabernacle, the word mishkan meansina, it's a place of god's divine presence. When there is when god's divine presence rests somewhere, there's expansion. How does it rest there? Because of a hak, because of a bringing together, a gathering together, many different spiritual forces coming together. That's how we get. That's how we get divine presence. That's how we get expansion. And I was thinking why is that represented by water, water has a unique quality, the molecules of water are shaped in such a way that if you have two pieces of two drops of water that are separate. They're not precisely next to each other, but they can be attracted to each other. You have if you fill up a cup of water, so the water can actually extend beyond the top of the cup because of the molecules of the fact that they are shaped a certain way. There's a plus and a minus. There's almost a magnetic force there that they are drawn together that they come together. That's natural for water. It's natural for water to come together. And because that's the natural aspect of water, the way Hashem created the water is that it comes together. So it teaches us this lesson that when we come together, so just like the water originally was a able to take up even though physically it wasn't possible for all the water to gather into one place, but it did. That's the nature of water. When we behave like water, when we act in that way, when we come together, we also break the rules of nature and a small space can hold a multitude of people. It's not a coincidence that when Mosha is about to give the Jewish people water. That's when they have to come together. They have to be able to come as one. They have to gather together in order to receive the water. They need to understand the message of the water. They need to know that just like water connects one molecule to another and causes expansion through that coming together, so to the Jewish people. In order to receive the water, they need to be able to learn the lesson of the water. And they need to come together, stand in a space which doesn't seem to fit them. And through that love, they can expand. They can get something which is supernatural. The water they don't, it's not something that can can happen on its own. They're in the wilderness. They're in a place where there is no water. In order to get those miracles, to step into expansion, a person needs to come into unity with all of his brethren, with all of the Jewish people. As I say this right now, it's Purim. Today is the day that in Jerusalem, they're celebrating Porim. Yesterday was Purim for anyone outside of Jerusalem. But one of the themes of Purim is that there's one nation that that is spread out that doesn't have that unity that's spread out amongst 127 different provinces. The Jewish people are bound together through the challenges. In the story of Porm, it's true, but it's true throughout the ages. The Jewish people, even though we're so far apart, we have a distance of thousands of miles from each other. Maybe we have Jews here, we have Jews there, but it doesn't seem like we have anything that that joins us together. And the idea that we see here is that we are joined together in in Purum. We're joined together because of the challenges. We are also joined together in service of Hashem. That's what we see in the B mikdash. That's what we see at Mount Si. That's what we see with the tabernacle. We are joined together. Whether it's because of the difficulties or whether it's because of serving Hashem, we are joined together. And it's an opportunity every single day to think of our brothers. Whether it's someone who's outside of Israel thinking about his brothers in Israel in the land of Israel, whether it's someone who lives in Israel, thinking about his brothers, what can I do to to teach others? What can I do to bring others closer to Hashem? What can I do to bring us closer? How can we all connect? And through the connecting, the more that we connect, the more connected we feel, the more expansion we see, the more miracles we experience. That's the lesson of Purim. The miracle at that happened at the end was the result of the Jewish people coming together, serving Hashem, recognizing their mistakes, doing chuva, repenting. And the story in our parha where the Jewish people are about to enter into a new relationship with Hashem establishing that tabernacle recognizing that that's only possible when we all work together when we all come together and we have that unity in that place there's an expansion there are miracles that we are able to experience I want to bless you and please bless mem should help us to indeed connect to come together to have unity to be able to recognize that each person has something special that they give in their service of God which should help us to be able to join together and indeed to merit to see the ultimate miracle to the the ultimate time when all of the nations will join together to serve Hashem and God will command Jerusalem expand expand so that all those who wish to serve me can indeed fit in to this amazing space and we will all experience miracles. Thank you so much for listening. Have a wonderful Shabas. 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