Dedicated in memory of Yaakov ben Avraham and Sarah Aharonov z"l
Two weeks ago, we established the idea that Am Israel’s job is to serve G-d with regards to spreading His name, laws and morals in the world. “You shall be a holy kingdom of Cohanim (Representatives of G-d)”.
Last week we learnt, that through doing G-d’s Will, and building Him a temple, He will put His Shechinah in this world, and thus we will be able to see and feel G-d’s presence, ultimately leading to happiness thankfulness and striving to make the world whole.
In this week's Parasha we dive deeper, to our Cohanim, and to our Cohen Gadol. We learn what he wears when fulfilling his service to G-d and the nation. One key element is the Choshen, a gold plate that the Cohen Gadol wears, which holds 12 stones, each representing the name of a tribe. Why is it important that the Cohen Gadol wear the names of the tribes? It is important for him to always remember who he is representing, while worshiping G-d, he remembers that he isn’t representing himself alone, but rather, that he is representing all of Am Israel.
I noticed, that while praying, what I emphasize in my prayers varies and depends on my mood. When I’m in a good and elevated mood, when I feel happy, my main focus is on Am Israel, praying for us to all unite in Israel, and to have the Beit Hamikdash built, I pray for the whole world to be in peace through G-d’s Shechinah.
But when I’m down, during my lower points in life, I notice my focus shifts to myself, I pray to become closer to G-d, I pray to be happier and better, and I almost completely neglect Am Israel.
In order to really manage to pray and improve the world, we need to work to improves ourselves, we need to make sure we are in touch with ourselves, that we are in a healthy mindset, and that we are connected to Hashem. Through this, we will clearly notice those around us. Without thinking of others and the best of Am Israel, we are not fully fulfilling our obligations in our prayers. Through the Choshen, Aharon is always reminded who he is representing. So should we be.
Torah Mitzion’s mission is exactly this. While on Shlichut, you are reminded every day that your mission is bigger than yourself. By bringing communities closer together, closer to Hashem, closer to Torah, and closer to Eretz Israel, you are constantly reminded who you are really representing. You pray for the Geula Shlema, but also act to bring it closer.
We should always remember who and what we are representing. Through this we will be able to bring G-d’s Presence closer to us in the world. We should always have the nation of Israel in mind, and with that, the effect will spread to the whole world as well.
Shabbat Shalom from Israel,
Shmuel Fleisheris a former Shaliach in Montreal (2020-21) and currently Counselor in the Mechina Olamit of World Bnei Akiva
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Torah MiTzion stands in the forefront of the battle for the future of the Jewish people in the Diaspora, offering religious-Zionist Torah scholarship to Jewish communities throughout the world and strengthening the bond between the Jewish people in the Diaspora and in Israel via the study of Torah.