Dedicated to the Beloved Memory of Rhoda Friedland
The Shepherd of Israel
“Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said, ‘There was never a person in Yerushalayim who was accountable for a sin. How can this be? The morning Tamid offering atoned for the misdeeds of the night, and the evening Tamid offering atoned for the misdeeds of the day.’” (Midrash Raba)
The Torah states regarding the Tamid offering, “This is the fire offering that you are to bring to HaShem: male first year lambs, unblemished, two a day, as a continual elevation offering.” What is the meaning of “two a day?” Two Tamid offerings facing the sun. How so? The Tamid of the morning was offered on the north-west side of the altar, facing the rising sun. The Tamid of the evening was offered on the north-east side of the altar, facing the setting sun.
The entire world and our life experience is based on the cycle of the rotation of the earth around the sun. Just as HaShem controls the rising and setting of the sun, so too, all of the “ups and downs” of life are administered by Divine Providence, the Guardian and Shepherd of Yisrael.
The rays of the rising and setting sun summon us to perform our collective mission and lead us to true happiness in trusting and serving HaShem. We are the flock that faithfully follows our beloved Shepherd. Our lives are filled with vitality, relief, and joy because we know that HaShem, our merciful Creator, masters over the events of our lives. We recognise the vicissitudes of life are subject to the Oneness of HaShem, and we rejoice in knowing that HaShem guides every step of our lives.
The same revelation of holiness of Mount Sinai was manifest in the Sanctuary. In light of this, the Luchot (Ten Commandments Engraved on the Tablets of Stone), as well as a Torah, were housed in the Holy of Holies. This holiness connects us to HaShem and humbles us to accept HaShem as true Master of the universe.
We recite the Ma’aseh Bereisheis, the Work of Creation, when we offer the Tamid offering. This instills within our hearts the profound understanding that HaShem, alone, created the universe and oversees all of the events of our lives from the Exodus from Egypt to the Final Redemption, may HaShem bring it soon in our days.
May the brilliant rays of the rising and setting sun, inspire us with the awareness that HaShem, the Shepherd of Israel, provides us with wonderful benefits of the sun — light, warmth, photosynthesis, physical health, and mental well-being. May we thank HaShem for His unbounded love and dedicate ourselves to Torah study and the performance of Mitzvot.
