Continuing our studies in the
Torah portion of PINCHAS Numbers 25:10–30:1
In the Torah portion as Moshe is again reminded that he will not be able to lead his people into the land of Promise, his first concern is to ensure the right leader would be chosen to take his place.
Moshe spoke to Hashem, saying: “Let Hashem, the God of spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will go forth before them and come before them, who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of Hashem will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”( Numbers 27:15-17)
Hashem accepts Moshe’s request;
“Take for yourself Joshua the son of Nun, a man of spirit, and you shall lay your hand upon him. You shall present him before Elazar the Kohen and before the entire congregation, and you shall command him in their presence. You shall bestow some of your majesty upon him, so that all the congregation of Israel will take heed.”
Following this we read about the commandment regarding the Daily sacrifice
“Command the Children of Israel, and tell them, “My Offering, My Bread-Offering for My Fire-Offerings for a pleasing odor to Me, you must offer in its appointed time ” (Numbers r 28:1) and continues to describe how the Tamid sacrifice was brought twice daily, once at sunrise and once just before sunset.
What is the connection?
The Midrash describes a discussion in the Talmudic House of Study, as to which verse in the Bible points to the guiding principle of spiritual Jewish life.
One of the answers given is ‘Love your fellow as yourself, and as Rabbi Akiva says, “This is the guiding principle of the Torah” (Sifra Vayikra 19:18).
The discussion quotes another opinion: “‘This is the record of the genealogy of Man, when God created him’ (Bereishit 5:1) — this is an even greater principle.”
The Maharal’s version of the Midrash presents yet a third opinion: the ultimate guiding principle is the following verse found in the Torah portion of PINCHAS:
“You shall offer the one lamb in the morning and the other in the afternoon” (Exodus 29:39 and Numbers 28:4).The Daily Tamid sacrifice.
All then acknowledge that this verse includes all the rest.
The Talmud in describing this sacrifice declares (Sanhedrin 36a) that the Korban Tamid is defined as “the korban which is exclusive to Me (Hashem)”.
Unlike most other sacrifices the Tamid is not identified with any one person or group. It is anonymous; the only being with whom it is identified is God Himself.
That verse and the sacrifice truly describes underscores the greatest framework of spiritual life without which that life begins to wither and die.
This framework is made up of the principles of “consistent, constant and unselfish faithfulness”.
When that framework is broken the inner strength critical for continuing the eternal journey is deeply wounded. Moshe was being reminded that he was to leave his people. He immediately stepped in to make sure that they were not be left leaderless.
Yet it was clear that the people of Israel were now to begin a journey fraught with changes and twists and turns.
Hashem then gives the people the prescription of survival through all these and every upcoming changes in their walk through history.
That prescription is consistency and constancy.
It is that consistent framework that sets the groundwork upon which spiritual growth and innovation can flourish. It is that constant preoccupation that gives us the spiritual anchor to withstand the greatest of storms throughout our history.
Without that consistency the vagaries and distractions of life always find ways to interfere with spiritual growth.
Consistent and constant care allows for a fragile sapling to grow to the greatest of heights.
What is true of the tree, is true of our soul.