THE מלאך המוות: THE ANGEL OF LIFE?
THE קטורת AND ITS SECRET
By: Rabbi Gershon Meisel, Regional Director Southwest NCSY
פרשת תצוה (Parshat Tetzaveh) offers a fascinating look into the כהנים's garments, highlighting the meticulous work of weaving and sewing with vibrant threads and embedding beautiful stones, which sanctify the כהן גדול's and other priests' attire. Yet, intriguingly, the narrative shifts to the מזבח הקטורת, the incense altar, after detailing these garments—a surprising turn, considering תרומה already outlined the משכן's vessels. This inclusion of the מזבח הקטורת prompts curiosity about its specific mention in this segment, namely, why is it mentioned here at the end of תצוה?
The רמב"ן illuminates this by invoking the principle of הכל הולך אחר הסוף (everything is determined by the end), which underscores the golden altar's centrality among all vessels. This insight suggests a fundamental importance to the מזבח הקטורת, positioning it as a critical element of the משכן's purpose, thereby justifying its placement at the conclusion of תצוה. This mirrors the הכל הולך אחר הראש principle (everything is determined by the beginning), as seen with the ארון קודש's prominence at the start of תרומה.
The רמב"ן furthers his insight with a somewhat cryptic teaching. He says that the secret to this idea is contained in the gift that the Angel of Death gave to Moshe. The revelation that קטורת has the power to halt death underscores its life-saving capacity when Aharon used the קטורת to stop the plague which was killing thousands. This custom of reciting the קטורת passages daily, adopted by many as a protective measure and a conduit for health, wealth, and blessing, is inspired by this profound episode.
This narrative leads to several intriguing questions:
- Why would the Angel of Death, inherently linked with the end of life, offer a gift that preserves it?
- What qualities of the קטורת lend it such potent life-affirming power?
- How does this gift of the Angel of Death that the רמב"ן bring illuminate the מזבח הקטורת as the centerpiece of the משכן?
The Angel of Death, as revealed in mystical teachings, is more than a figure of demise; he serves as a divine messenger challenging humanity with moral tests to foster spiritual growth. He actually is the one who provides us with the chance to choose bad and thus gives us our free will! This in turn is what justifies our existence because Hashem created us with the purpose to CHOOSE GOOD, which we couldn’t do without this angel. In this way, the Angel of Death is paradoxically a facilitator of life.
Addressing question 1, the Angel of Death's act of revealing the קטורת secret to Moshe demonstrates his complexity. This gesture of divulging how he can be countered isn't merely a concession but a declaration of his purpose: to create life by being defeated.
Concerning question 2, the connection of the קטורת to life is linked to its connection with the soul, which was blown into our body through the nose. Sweet fragrances come from living beings like flowers and trees and stand in stark contrast to the odors of decay and rot. The nose and smell are thus connected to life itself, and the קטורת connects us to Hashem using these very tools.
This ultimately answers question 3 because the positioning of the מזבח הקטורת at the end of תצוה signifies its fundamental role within the משכן. This altar of smell, through its association with the divine breath of life, underscores the משכן's function as a dwelling place for God's presence in the world, akin to the soul's relationship with the body. It stands as a testament to the משכן's overarching objective: inviting Hashem's life-giving presence into our world.
In applying these profound insights, we are inspired to make our lives and homes more inviting to Hashem's