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SHABBAT PESACH

04/26/2024 01:08:32 PM

Apr26

"… and put them upon the head of the he-goat and send them off by a man who had ere this been prepared for it into the wilderness. (16,21)

Kindness

Concerning this we learn in Masechta Succah: "The Mokirei Yerushalaim (=the distinguished men of Jerusalem) used to escort him (=they escorted the one who brought the he-goat to the wilderness)) up to the first succah (until the place of the first succah amongst the ten succahs that were put up on the path of the transporter of the he-goat). In the continuation of the Mishnah we learn that the first succah was a distance of two thousands cubits – that is the "Shabbat domain" wherein one is allowed to walk on Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Mordechai Yehuda Leib Saks notes: We may wonder that the men of Jerusalem who could have derived so much holiness from the lofty scene of the service of the High Priest in the Beit Hamikdash on Yom Kippur preferred to leave the domain of the Temple in the middle of Yom Kippur in order escort the transporter of the he-goat out of the gates of Jerusalem. And we see that these people were praised by the Sages who refer to them as the Mokirei Yerushalaim.

We learn from this that the trait of loving-kindness between people is greater than being close to the High Priest in the Beit Hamikdash on the holiest day of the year.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!

Sun, November 3 2024 2 Cheshvan 5785