Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

"And the cheubim were with their wings spread upwards… with their faces one to another…" (37, 9)

Unity and modesty

Concerning the verse "And the cheubim were with their wings spread upwards… with their faces one to another…" our Rabbis ob'm ask (Baba Batra) – Why does it say here that the cherubim were with their faces one to another? In Divrei Hayamim it says concerning the cherubim (3, 13) "and their faces were towards the House" This means that the cherubim were facing the walls of the Temple. The Gemara answers that – This is not a question. "This is when Israel does G-d's will and that is when Israel does not do G-d's will."   In other words, when Israel does G-d's will the cherubim faced one another but when they it doesn't the cherubim faced the Temple.

The explanation is that when the Children of Israel direct their faces and hearts towards one another and each person takes an interest in the status of the other and makes sure to fill his needs when necessary – at that time it is considered that Israel is doing the will of their Father in Heaven; for G-d's wants us to perform kindness with others and help the needy. Therefore, the cherubim in the Beit Hamikdash would face one another to symbolize to us that the hearts of Israel were also caring one for the other.

In comparison, when each one in Israel would face his own home and only worry about his family's needs and would not care and be concerned about his friend – this was considered that they were not doing G-d's will. Therefore, the cherubim would face the walls of the Temple to tell us that each person was only concerned for his own needs and the needs of his household members.  From here we see that the purpose of Creation is for the people of Israel to help one another and live together in peace and unity – and therefore the prophet said (Yeshaya) "Each person to help his friend and to tell his brother to be strong".

We can add that which is written in the Gemara (Sota), "Rabbi Yosef said, a person should always learn from G-d's outlook, for G-d left all the mountains and valleys and He imbued His Divine Presence on Mount Sinai (the lowest of the mountains)."   We must understand this. What is "G-d's outlook"?

Rashi says "G-d's outlook" – loving lowliness." This means that a person must lower himself and cleave to the characteristic of modesty. For the source of peace between people is when a person nullifies himself towards his friend and subordinates himself to him. (And on the contrary, the source of all disputes is haughtiness that comes for a lack of subordination towards another.)

Now it is wonderful to understand what our Rabbis ob'm taught from the verse "Love your neighbor as yourself" "ואהבת לרעך כמוך" – that the letters next to the word רעך are שפל (humble, low).  The letter after ר is ש, the letter after ע is פ and the letter after ך is ל- and this spells out שפל - to teach us that humbleness a person can acquire connections of love and peace with is neighbor.

And this is alluded to in the words "and with their faces one to another" "ופניהם איש אל אחיו" – the last letters of these words spell out שלום- peace – to teach us that the source of peace is when a person turns towards his friend without haughtiness and with modesty, lowering his stature, in humbleness.

And we can say that therefore G-d appeared to Moshe (Shmot 25) "between the two cherubim" - "מבין שני הכרובים" – for these are the initials of Moshe משה, for Moshe Rabeinu was the "most modest of all men on the Earth" and in the place where modesty is found, peace and the Divine Presence are also found.

SHABBAT SHALOM!!!

Mayer Sasson