Jewish Speech Writer.com

Shmini 5763

"[bring the korbanos] for today, Hashem will appear to you.”

Earlier, Moshe had blessed Klal Yisroel that the Shechina should rest on the works of their hands. Now they are told that the time for this has come. These sacrifices were obligatory on this day because HaShem would rest His Shechina upon them.

Two pesukim later, Moshe tells them “This is the thing you shall do and the glory of G-d shall appear to you.” This time it sounds like it is not guaranteed, but only if they perform some action will the Holy Countenance descend upon them. Which was it? Did they need to do an action or would G-d visit His Spirit upon them regardless?

The Ohr HaChaim we quoted last year says that the thing they did which earned them this revelation was that they gathered together and “stood before G-d.” As the Ohr HaChaim explains it, when they recognized that all of their actions were “before G-d” they would merit seeing His glory. It is as ChaZa”L say: `One's behavior when among his peers is not the same as when he is before the King.'

Perhaps, then, there are two references to G-d appearing. In the first posuk, Moshe assures them that HaShem will appear to them. In the second, he is telling them how to make this a happy meeting, one in which they will merit to see the glory of HaKadosh Boruch Hu.

Each day, HaShem visits us and conducts an inspection, as it were. He looks at us and determines if we are worthy of seeing Divine glory. Our goal is to ensure that each day, we behave in a fashion that will make our Father in Heaven proud of us, willing to rest His Shechina upon us, and desirous of “spending time” with us.

We read Parshas HaChodesh this week and are told, “HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem, This month is yours.” The Rishonim say that until now, the Jews were slaves but upon leaving Egypt they were able to make their own decisions for the first time ever. The mission we have been given with this freedom is to make the decisions that will earn us revelation of G-d's divine presence, and make sure we can witness and bask in His Heavenly glory.

A woman noticed that her son “mysteriously” became ill on Friday mornings. He would complain of stomachaches and headaches and sore throats in an effort to stay home from school. After some investigating, she found out the reason. It seems that Friday was the day when the Principal would go around and visit the classrooms, quizzing students on their weekly studies.

One Friday morning, prepared to wrangle with her son yet again, she was surprised to see that he was up early and had gotten himself dressed without the usual prodding. “Did you forget that you have school today?” she asked. “Nope,” said he, “I'm going to school.”

“Hmmm,” said his mother, “Is the Principal out of town?” “No, he will be quizzing us,” replied her smiling son.

“Then why are you in such a good mood? You usually dread the Friday quizzes.” “Well,” said the lad, with a gleam in his eyes, “the difference is that this week I'm prepared!”

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