Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi Shemuel Akhamzadeh
וְהִקְטַרְתָּ֤ ×ֶת־כָּל־הָ×ַ֙יִל֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עֹלָ֥ה ×”Ö–×•Ö¼× ×œÖ·Ö½×™×”×•Ö¸Ö‘×” רֵ֣יחַ × Ö´×™×—Ö”×•Ö¹×—Ö· ×ִש×Ö¼Ö¶Ö¥×” לַיהוָ֖ה הֽוּ×׃
Turn all of the ram into smoke upon the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing odor… ( Shemot 29;18)
ריח × ×™×—×•×—. × Ö·×—Ö·×ª רוּחַ ×œÖ°×¤Ö¸× Ö·×™, שֶׁ×ָמַרְïŠÖ´×™ ×•Ö°× Ö·×¢Ö²ï¬«Ö¸×” רְצï‹× Ö´×™: that I commanded and My will was carried out. ( Rashi)
Rashi From Massechet Zevachim points out that it is not the actual smell of the burned flesh of the ram that is pleasing to the Almighty, rather it’s the act of carrying out his will ( exactly ) as he wishes that is a pleasant aroma in front of him.
The lesson is obvious but not that simple: Do as Hashem commands, follow the Torah to the last letter, but don’t spice it with your own ideas or wishful thoughts.
We are constantly challenged with dilemmas that require applying this lesson. Many times we know what the halacha requires, but social pressures or other life demands make us feel it’s perhaps better to twist the halacha in different directions and at times we feel obligated to do so.
This too was the challenge that Shaool Hamelech was faced with ( Shemuel I ) when he was commanded to annihilate the Amalekites and their belongings. But under the pressure of the people, he failed to follow Hashem’s words fully and he allowed the cattle and the king of Amalek to live. This was the downfall Shaool and his kingdom.
Interestingly, Esther, who was descended from Shaool, became the means through which Hashem brought about the redemption of Purim. Reading The Megillah, we can see that Esther did this by following every command that Mordechai ( a prophet) gave, she did not change an iota. This was pleasing to Hashem.
Shabbat Shalom.