MARCH 6, 1998 VOL 1, ISSUE 17 8 ADAR 5758

There were two mizbeichos, altars, in the Mishkan and the Beis HaMikdash. They were the mizbeiach hazahav and mizbeiach hanechoshes, the golden altar and the copper altar. The golden altar was used for offering incense, while the copper one was used for regular offerings. Details of the copper altar are discussed in the Torah portion of Terumah, while the golden altar is described in the portion ofTetzaveh. The Mishnah informs us in Tractate Chagigah that both the golden and copper altars were immune to ritual impurity. R. Eliezer says the reason for this is that the altars are likened to earth, and earth is not subject to ritual impurity. The Sages, however, explain that they were not subject to ritual impurity because the altars were merely covered with gold or copper. As such, their covering was nullified before their interior, which was composed of material not subject to ritual impurity.

In terms of our personal spiritual service, the teaching of the Mishnah is as follows: In its spiritual sense, the Tabernacle and all its vessels are found within every Jew. The person is likened to the Mishkan, while the faculties of intellect, emotion, etc., are similar to its vessels. These vessels can become defiled and spiritually impure when a person acts contrary to G-d's will.

Once this occurs, the vessels must be purified so that they may continue to be used in the service of man's personal Tabernacle. For every Jew is considered G-d's Holy Temple, and the Temple and its vessels must be spiritually pure.

People fall into two categories: either they are wealthy or they are not. This wealth may be either spiritual or material. Of he who is wealthy, it is said that "everything he possesses is of gold," while of he who is not wealthy, it is said that "all his coins are copper." Every Jew, however, even one whose spiritual status is merely "copper," is whole with regard to that quintessential part of him that makes him what he is, a Jew. That part always desires to fulfill G-d's will. As stated in HaYom Yom: "A Jew neither desires, nor is capable, of sundering himself from G-dliness."

A Jew's inability to separate himself from G-dliness, and his readiness to sacrifice himself and his animalistic desires for G-d, is termed mizbeiach, an altar upon which the individual sacrifices his individuality, ego and desires. The above-mentioned Mishnah thus informs us that, whatever a Jew's level, be he of "gold" or "copper," his Jewish essence is not subject to ritual impurity. According to R. Eliezer, the reason for this is because the innermost desire of every Jew is to fulfill G-d's will to the exclusion of all else. This is because a Jew's essence possesses a humility before G-d that causes him to be likened to earth, which permits itself to be trodden upon by all.

On the festival of Purim, when we all listen carefully to the reading of the Megilla and ponder upon the story it tells us, let us all remember a few important details and facts that took place in those days at this time. There arose a Haman, who issued a decree to murder and destroy all Jews at a fixed date. Queen Esther then calls upon Mordechai to "gather all the Jews and fast" and then she would go and plead with the King to rescind the terrible decree. Mordechai thereupon goes and gathers tens of thousands of Jewish children and teaches them the Torah; he teaches them the procedure of offering the Omer when the Beit-Hamikdash would be rebuilt. All the children are so enchanted by the new spirit that Mordechai had inculcated into them, that even facing the danger of death, they exclaim: "We stick with Mordechai and the Torah - for life or death!" In that very same day the decree becomes null and void. Haman's downfall is already assured and the Jews are saved, even though they learn of it only after a number of months. The experience of our fathers is a lesson to us all. Let us remember that one of the chief means of frustrating the Hamans of our time, bring about their downfall, and bring light and joy to our people is: TO GATHER JEWISH CHILDREN AND TEACH THEM TORAH AND YIDDISHKEIT! To tell them that the true and complete redemption really lies in our own hands, for as soon as we Jews return to G-d in complete repentance - we are redeemed immediately, by our Righteous Messiah. To tell them further, that our Holy Beit-Hamikdash will be rebuilt soon, and we must all be worthy and prepared to serve our G-d in the Holy Sanctuary. On the day when the Jewish children are imbued with this spirit, and are ready to exclaim - "We remain with thee, our Torah, for life or death"- on that very day, our Torah assures us, all the Hamans will be defeated, and all Jews will have 'light, gladness, joy, and respect,' speedily in our time.

- The Rebbe