THE NAMES ARE MISSING BUT THEIR PRESENCE IS STILL FELT !!!!

 

Our Sedra this week commences with an unusual beginning.

In the Sedra before, Terumah, we find it commences with the words “Hashem spoke to Moses saying.”

However our Sedra  starts with the words “ And you shall command the Children of Israel.” There is not the customary narrative when introducing a communication from G-d to Moses, as in Terumah.

Of further interest is that this is the only Sedra from Shemos to Devorim that does not at all contain the name of Moses.

A suggestion given by commentators for this unusual circumstance is that it relates to Moses’s plea to G-d that He forgive the Israelites for the sin of the Golden Calf. Here Moses states “ Now, if you will forgive their sin (good). But if not , please erase me from Your book which You have written. (32:32).

Our sages say that “ a righteous person’s curse, even if unintended, will be fulfilled.” The omission of Moses’s name from this portion of the “Book” was a fulfilment of that curse.

 

We find in a Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 10:1) the following quote.

“ Throughout the forty years that Israel was in the wilderness, Moses did not refrain from performing the functions of the High Priest.”

This quote is based on a verse from Psalms (99:6) “ Moses and Aaron were among His priests.”

Rabbi Berachya in the name of Rabbi Shimon  in the Midrash above quotes from

( 1 Chronicles 23:13-14 ) “ The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. And Aaron was separated, that he might be sanctified as most holy, he and his sons forever, to offer before the Lord, to minister to Him and to bless in His name forever. But as for Moses, ‘ the man of G-d, ’ his sons are named among the tribe of Levi.”

 

When in our Sedra Moses is told “ And bring near to you Aaron your brother and his sons…… that they may minister to Me in the office of priesthood.” ( Exodus 28.1)  Moses was aggrieved because this meant that he was not to be High Priest of his people. It would seem that this official appointment of Aaron instead of Moses to the High priesthood was meant as a punishment for saying at the burning bush ‘ send anyone else but me.’

This all seems very strange as we are told that Moses did indeed perform the functions of the High Priest throughout the forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness. We are told also that when Moses acted in this capacity he was clothed in plain white garments and not the special prescribed garments in keeping with the honour due to the Sanctuary.

 

We find in the Talmud (Berachos 58a) “ The majesty of kingship on earth is similar to that of (G-d in) Heaven.” The Maggid of Dubno brings a moshol to illustrate that the honour due to a human king can be an analogy for the homage due to G-d.

A king on earth has many ministers and officials, each one responsible for different aspects of his government and each one his own function and special clothes when in the presence of the King at certain appointed times. However most kings have one minister who is closer to them than the rest of cabinet. This man enjoys the king’s full confidence and does not need to wear any special costume and may come to him at any time. Whilst in the official hierarchy this minister is not assigned to any specific office, he is nevertheless higher in rank than all his colleagues.

 

The Dubno Maggid  says that this analogy is true of Aaron and Moses to the King of the Universe. Whilst Aaron was now officially High Priest he could only come before G-d at appointed times. “ He (Aaron) will come not at all times into the holy place.”  (Lev. 16:2) and when in the Sanctuary had to wear the insignia of the High Priest.

 

Not so Moses of whom we read “ My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My House.” (Num. 12:7). Moses was allowed to enter the Sanctuary at any time he desired and without having to wear special garments. He was considered so close to G-d that he could come before Him in plain white garments. He was after all described as “ the man of G-d.”

 

It is interesting to note that whilst Moses’s name is not mentioned in our Sedra the name of Hashem is not mentioned in the Megilla Esther which we read this weekend.

Also when reading the Megilla we blot out by noise the name of Haman.

By implication it would seem that that some people have such an influence that the mention of their names are not necessary, and some people have such a bad influence that their names have to be blotted out.

Moses continued to minister in the Sanctuary despite not being mentioned in our Sedra. Hashem’s presence and control over events in the Purim story is evident even though His name is not mentioned and the wicked Haman’s misdeeds cause his name to be drowned out by noise.

 

Perhaps there is another message here for all of us. In life some people require their name to be publicised whenever an opportunity arises and some are happy to rest under the umbrella of being anonymous. Some people require to be clothed in the vestments of officialdom and others happy to remain clothed in plain white garments.

Whatever your personal choice surely what matters is the purity of our motives and the sincerity of our actions knowing that by our own example we always have an opportunity to influence others for good.

 

In our own Sanctuary, our home, we have a daily opportunity to serve and minister to Hashem our G-d. As Am Kodosh, a holy people we can be the High Priests ministering before G-d. We do not need fancy titles or special garments to come closer to Hashem, just the desire and will to love Hashem with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our might.

 

I wish you all a happy and joyous Purim and a fulfilling Shabbos.

Shabbat Shalom from me and of course TTFN.

 

( Part of a regular shiur given at Young Israel of North Netanya Synagogue).