Educating ‘My Moshiach’s – My Anointed Ones’ Is Not Child’s Play
Why does the Torah choose to dedicate an entire Parsha to the service of the Choen Gadol on Yom Kippur? It is one day a year and a job that belongs to one person. Aren’t there more important topics that apply to everyone? • Full Article
BEGIN WITH A GRIN
A teacher began getting complains from parents who weren’t pleased by what their children said went on in the classroom.
The teacher decided to write a response to the parents and this is what she wrote:
“Dear parents. I request that you not believe the stories your children tell you about what goes in the classroom. I, too, commit to not believing their stories about what goes on with you at home.”
HIGHER EDUCATION
This week, we will read parshas Emor which is mostly about the laws of the kohanim and the mitzvos that pertain to them like forbidden marriages and not being allowed to become impure through the dead. Just two weeks ago, we read parshas Acharei Mos, which is mostly about the laws of the kohen gadol on Yom Kippur, the bringing of offerings, the lots on the goats, the sprinkling of blood and the once-a-year entering of the Holy of Holies and the bringing of incense there.
Surprisingly, the Torah first has the laws of Yom Kippur, one day a year, which pertain to the kohen gadol, one person, and the service which had to be done in the Beis HaMikdash, one place in the world, while Emor has a slew of laws about all kohanim anywhere, in Eretz Yisrael and outside of it, and at all times, when we had the Beis HaMikdash and in exile. Wouldn’t it have been proper to write the parsha of Emor before the parsha of Acharei Mos? Shouldn’t the Torah first address the laws that pertain to all kohanim?
Furthermore, when was Acharei Mos said by Moshe? In Nissan, seven months before Yom Kippur. It wasn’t a burning topic that couldn’t be postponed. There was plenty more time to learn about Yom Kippur, so why the rush?
In a beautiful letter, the Rebbe, explains and teaches an important lesson about this. Parshas Emor teaches us about the holiness of the priesthood, and before the Torah teaches us about the holiness of the priesthood and the kohanim, and the mitzvos resulting from this holiness, the Torah hints to the source of the holiness and the right way to instill it in us – parshas Acharei!
Before the Torah “sanctifies” the kohanim in parshas Emor, it renews and implants a deep foundational idea which is, the source of holiness comes from the Holy of Holies, through the kohen gadol – the most holy of all, and through Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the year! In other words, in order to instill holiness within us (i.e. Parshas Emor), we need to go to the source, to aspire to the highest level of holiness there is (i.e. parshas Acharei) for this is the only way to sanctify man. One can’t suffice with “just a bit more,” “a drop beyond,” with another level or another spiritual plane; we need to reach the source! We need to connect with the holiest man, the holiest day, and the holiest place!
The Rebbe learns from this a simple lesson regarding chinuch; actually, not just one lesson but a three-fold lesson that pertains to the olam, shana, nefesh of chinuch, i.e. the place of chinuch, the time of chinuch, and to the soul of those involved in chinuch.
The goal of pure chinuch is, “even when he grows old, he won’t depart from it,” that the child absorb the intensity of holiness to the point that it affects him for his entire life. This can only happen if the institution where the child learns – the place of chinuch, and the time that the child is educated – his youth, and the people who are involved in teaching him – the soul of the chinuch, are on the holiest level, without the secular and mundane being mixed in. Only by accessing the highest level of holiness, the source of holiness, can we ensure that the holiness we are trying to instill in the child will take effect.
Therefore, the Torah begins with the laws of the priesthood only after the laws of the kohen gadol, on Yom Kippur, in the Mikdash, because in order to raise a kohen, we must first provide him with a taste of the high priesthood at the holiest time in the holiest place and only thus can we ensure that he will continue to choose holiness for the rest of his life!
In connection with chinuch, it says (Shabbos 119b), “Do not touch meshichai (My anointed ones), these are the schoolchildren.” Why are schoolchildren called “anointed ones?” What is so “Moshiach-like” about children?! The simple answer, says Rashi, is that “it’s the way of children to anoint them with oil.” (A Jewish mother does everything for her children. She bakes and cooks, cleans and cares for them, and spares no efforts, not even anointing with oil.) The deeper answer is that the chinuch of Jewish children is intertwined with bringing the Geula. Jewish education ought to be completely permeated by Moshiach. Children who are educated in this way, who absorb the atmosphere of Geula from the youngest ages, have it become an inseparable part of their lives so that when you glance at a Jewish child what you see is – My anointed ones! A child who lives with Moshiach!
TO CONCLUDE WITH A STORY
We will end with a story which I heard from the person it happened to, R’ Yeshaya Zushe Wilhelm a’h. The above-mentioned letter was written by the Rebbe for Oholei Torah’s annual dinner. R’ Zushe was the menahel of the mesivta for thirty-two years and as a child, he was one of the talmidim who learned in Oholei Torah in the early years, when the entire mosad consisted of one class.
He once told me how his parents made the decision to send him to Oholei Torah when there were more established yeshivos in New York at that time. It all began with a yechidus with the Rebbe. His parents had yechidus and the Rebbe asked where the children went to school. They said where their daughter went to school and the Rebbe was satisfied, but when they spoke about their sons’ education and the parents said they wanted to send their boys to a yeshiva where they also learned English so their children could get along in life, the Rebbe said to the father, R’ Avrohom Dovid: That’s what you’re missing – English?! Moshiach is coming very soon and what will your children do with English? Better they should learn in Oholei Torah!
The Wilhelms did as the Rebbe said and the Rebbe’s bracha was fulfilled in that they merited to see blessed nachas from children great in Torah and who managed and manage quite well in the world.
Shabbat Shalom
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Moshiach Beparsha is a weekly drasha connecting the Rebbe’s teachings on Moshiach with the weekly Parsha, presented in an engaging way with stories and practical life lessons.
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