Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

241
Jewish people more than other mitzvot.
בלה תובשחמ
One of the sacrifices brought from the machatzit ha-shekel was the korban tamid.
The Gemara in Masechet Menachot (65b) writes that from the start of Nissan
until the eighth of the month it is not permissible to fast or to make a eulogy.
The Gemara elaborates that the reason for this holiday of sorts is due to the fact
that during that time the “daily sacrifice was properly established.” There raged
a debate between the Sadducees and the Sages. The Sadducees, who relied on
a literal reading of the Torah, believed that individuals can sponsor the korban
tamid. They based their opinion on the fact that the Torah states, “The one
lamb shall you (singular) make in the morning and the second lamb shall you
(singular) make in the afternoon” (Bamidbar 28:4). The Sages insisted that the
sacrifice has to be sponsored by the public pot. They quoted as their support
the verse, “my offering, my food for my fire shall you (plural) be scrupulous to
offer to Me in its appointed time” (Bamidbar 28:2). After eight days of debating,
the Sadducees finally acquiesced to the opinion of the Sages. This insured that
the daily sacrifice would be able to be brought without interference from the
Sadducees. To commemorate this even, those days were designated as a festival.
It is clear if the Sages deemed it proper to establish a festival there is much more
to the argument than singular and plural and the individual’s ability to subsidize
the korban tamid. Rav Kook (Mishpat Kohen 144, and Igrot Hara’ayah) explains
that the argument centered on the concept of tzibbur. The Sadducees believed
the tzibbur (congregation) is comprised of the many individuals that make it up.
In other words, tzibbur is a partnership. The sum total is no greater than the
parts – perhaps true but only superficially. The Sages wished to offer a more
expansive view of tzibbur. Tzibbur within B’nei Yisrael is a lot deeper. When
individuals band together it creates a new entity greater that the sum of its parts.
The tzibbur juggernaut presses forward independent of any particular individual.
The tzibbur does not rely on any individual to keep it alive. No individual can
be seen as upholding or potentially detracting from the tzibbur. That is why no
individual can donate the korban tamid. Shall you (singular) was not speaking to
the individual but to the tzibbur that comes together as one.