62 Playing with Matchbox Cars

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses a requirement to have three kohanim perform the inaugurating sacrifices. The Gemara cites Mishle (14:28): “In the multitude of people is the King’s glory.”

We see this principle in many areas of halacha, that when there are more people it brings more honor and intensity to the mitzvah. Such as a blessing out loud for a group eating together is superior to each individual reciting the blessing (Berachos 53a), or to publicly read the Torah on Yom Kippur (Yoma 70a), and reading the Megillah (Mishna Berurah 687:7).

Psychologically it is understandable that, as social animals, humans will tend to be more impressed and motivated by a group experience. There is a natural need for social status and acceptance. When a group is doing something, our wish to belong is a powerful motivator.

From a mystical perspective it is deeper. Since I quoted Nefesh Hachaim, I’ll quote Tanya today. In Part II, Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah, Chapter 7, the Rebbe explains that God needed to “make space” for an autonomous material world because there is no king without subjects, and “In the multitude of people is the King’s glory.” God’s honor comes from humans (representing all of the physical world), out of free will, recognizing and connecting to God.

But even this can be only a metaphor because God is complete and needs nothing. The word “need,” or “it brings honor,” is a stand-in for human perception of a deeper truth or force of the universe. It is not that God is a king any more than a Rolls Royce is the same as its Matchbox car model of it.

The idea of the essence of the Rolls Royce can be captured symbolically in the Matchbox car. But if you never knew what a Rolls Royce was, you would........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)