When our Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, its Divine service was performed by the Kohanim, the priests. Since there were so many Kohanim, however, they were divided into twenty-four groups each called a "Mishmar," a "watch." These watches took turns performing the service for one week at a time. The changing of the guard -- the replacement of one mishmar with another -- took place every week on Shabbat: the outgoing watch offered the morning and musaf sacrifices, and the incoming watch offered the afternoon sacrifice (Sukkah 56b). The Talmud in Massekhet Berakhot (12a) tells us that the outgoing watch would bless the incoming Kohanim with the following words: "Mi Sheshikain Et Shemo Babayit Hazeh, Hu Yashkhin Beneikhem: Ahavah, Veahavah, Veshalom, Verei'ut - The One Who has caused His Name to dwell in this house, may He cause to dwell among you: love, brotherhood, peace and friendship."
Various commentators ask: why this particular blessing? What is the significance of a blessing for Ahava, Achavah, Shalom and Rei'ut - love, brotherhood, peace and friendship when the Kohanim were about to serve in the Temple?
Tiferet Yisrael, in his commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 5:1 ot #9), quotes the Talmud which says that Kohanim, by their nature, are hot-tempered (Bava Batra 160b and Kiddushin 70b). Therefore, a blessing was recited in hopes of preventing any conflict between them. This was all the more necessary, he says, since the Kohanim only worked in the Temple every twenty-four weeks, and were not used to performing the Divine worship. Questions regarding the laws and proper procedures could lead to a dispute and could end up invalidating the worship. The outgoing watch hoped that by blessing their brethren with love, brotherhood, peace and friendship, such problems might be averted.
Rabbi Shmuel Eidels, known as the Maharsha, in his commentary printed in the back of the Talmud (Berakhot 12a), gives another short, but penetrating answer. He suggests that this bracha was established not because of the Kohanim's general temperament, but because of a specific event that occurred among them. The Talmud in Massekhet Yoma tells us that all of the jobs in the Temple were decided by lot, except one. The first job of the day, the Terumat Hadeshen - removing the previous day's ashes from the altar - was available to whoever arrived first. It was thought that because removing the ashes was done so early in the morning, Kohanim would be sleeping and there was no need for lots (Yoma 22a). If it did happen that more than one person showed up, there was a race: whoever ran to the top of the ramp first would get to perform the service. But the Talmud (23a) relates a horrible incident that once occurred: One time two Kohanim got up early to clear the ashes, and they began running up the ramp. They were neck and neck when one of the Kohanim, unable to best his competitor, stabbed the other. It was a day of utter disbelief in the Temple. How could a Kohain running to serve Hashem commit such an atrocity? The sages believed that this incident was a fluke - the result of one Kohain losing touch with reality. But, the Sages needed to take action, and so the Maharsha says, they instituted the blessing: Mi Sheshikain Et Shemo Babayit Hazeh, Hu Yashkhin Beneikhem: Ahavah, Veahavah, Veshalom, Verei'ut - The One Who has caused His Name to dwell in this house, may He cause to dwell among you: love, brotherhood, peace and friendship.
But the Talmud (22a) tells us that despite this attempt to remind the Kohanim of their need for mutual love and respect, another incident did occur: two Kohanim were again racing up the ramp. This time one pushed the other, causing him to fall and break his leg. When the Sages saw that this practice was dangerous, and that it was not only one Kohain who had caused a problem, they determined that the job of removing the ashes would be decided by lot, just like all of the other jobs.
What Jew would not be dismayed at the Maharsha's insight? The Sages established a blessing for the Kohanim - cherish, love, care about your fellow Jew, especially one who is running to serve Hashem and the Kohanim paid no heed. So focused on serving Hashem were these Jews that the fate of another Jew was irrelevant. It is amazing! We live in a time when many types of Jews are running up the ramp to serve Hashem. Some running faster, some running slower. Some running straight, and some seeming to run crooked, very crooked. The reaction of most Jews when seeing another Jew running in a manner unlike their own, whether on the right or the left, is to try to push the other Jew out of the way. It is not your Divine service that God wants, it's mine. No wonder the Temple still lies in ruins; no wonder this week we will commemorate Tisha B'Av once again.
This is a time for Jewish unity and for loving for every single Jew. The Jewish People suffers most when we do not care about one another. Loving a fellow Jew does not mean condoning what they believe or practice. Not pushing a Jew off the ramp does not mean that you support his worship. Heeding the bracha is telling a fellow Jew that we are bound to the same fate, that we are in this together.
Mi Sheshikain Et Shemo Babayit Hazeh - May the One Who has the ability to restore His great Name to His Holy Temple, Hu Yashkhin Beneikhem: Ahavah, Veahavah, Veshalom, Verei'ut - cause to dwell among the Jewish People: love, brotherhood, peace and friendship.
Rabbi
Mordechai Friedfertig
Congregation B'nai Shalom
Williamsville,
New York
Email: mordechai at utj.org
Copyright 2001-2003 by Mordechai Friedfertig