We also know that the Ketores is the offering for Yisrael, and only for Simcha, Joy.[1] This is not like the Chatas, or Asham, that are being brought for a sin it is not brought for Kaparah. From all the Karbanos there is none more beloved to Hashem than the Ketores.
Yet at the same time, Chazal teach us the the Ketores is Michaperes on Lashon Harah[2].
What is Chazal teaching us with these seemingly contradictory ideas?
I imagine the Ketores offering, and preparation of it as a reenactment of Gan Eden , a chance for us to stay in the Garden and make Shabbos Kodesh. Perhaps it is telling us that we dont have to be perfect in the garden and there is still a mechanism to fix within the Garden. The same mechanism available to Adam and Chavah.
The Ketores offering begins with Aharon Hakohen, preparing the light, the candles…All the tov planted for us, our trees….
What if all the different fragrances represent all the creativity Hashem wants us to have with His world, to eat of the different trees of the garden as the opening into the garden, וַיְצַו֙ ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל?
The one sense that does not have forgetfulness, or disconnection at it was never involved with the first sin.. Just enough of a scent to reconnect us to the Garden, to Shabbos..
The one sense that never forgets[3]..
Yet this time,’ אֵין מְעָרְ֒בִין בָּהּ דְּבַשׁ מִפְּ֒נֵי שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה אָמְ֒רָה,
We don’t mix the honey in it because Torah tells us not to
Is it possible that honey is representative of the Etz Hadaas,, the one tree Adam was told not to eat from?
וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ [4]
Perhaps this is our opportunity to fix the sin of the Garden, that began with speech. We get to come back to that moment, and this time we can make sure to guard what we say, and the words of Hashem. We are not including the honey because this is what Torah says. Not something that we added without Hashem telling us to.
This time we work, and grind the spices until our voice is beautiful, cleared from any residue of the Nashash..
We get to smell the fragrances of Gan Eden, and Hashem is Happy anthropomorphically as we restore our Neshamos to its natural design of joy.
May we all have a joyous, healed Gan Eden Shabbas.
[1] Medrash Tanchuma, Titzaveh 15:2
[2] Yoma 44a:5
[3] Rabeinu Bachya, Bereishis, Hakdama
[4] Bereishis 2:17
hindy
Michal
intomeaning
Neil Wernick