The Fire We Bring and the Fire HaShem Sends - Pinchas

 This week's parashah returns us to the daily korbanot,the sacrifices that were offered every single day in the Bet HaMikdash. Atfirst glance, these verses can seem distant from our lives. We no longer havethe Temple, no longer bring offerings, and yet our Sages teach that the essenceof the korban was never merely the animal upon the altar. Drawing on aremarkable teaching from the Ba'al HaTanya in Likkutei Torah, we explore howevery Jew still offers a korban each day—through the three garments of the soul:our thoughts, our words, and our actions. The challenge is no longer to placean animal on the altar, but to place our own passions, ambitions, and desiresbefore HaShem, allowing the 'lower fire' within us to be transformedby the 'higher fire' of holiness.     This class is lovingly dedicated in honor of two veryspecial birthdays. To my beloved daughter, Mariyah, may HaShem continue tobless you with abundant health, happiness, wisdom, and every success, and mayyou and your beautiful family continue to be a source of pride and blessing forKlal Yisrael. And to my dear friend, Abie, wishing you many more years of goodhealth, joy, nachat from your family, and continued blessings in all that youdo. May HaShem grant you both many long years, filled with His kindness, andmay we all merit to see the day when the fire once again descends upon theMizbe'aḥ in the rebuilt Bet HaMikdash, bimherah beyameinu. Amen.