Maintaining Enthusiasm

I feel compelled to start with a brief digression. I missed you all last week, and my children especially missed being in shul the past few weeks. Nowhere else have we found a place where kids gather around the Bimah during Kiryat HaTorah or come up together to sing. Where else would a ten-year-old receive the encouragement and support to lead Pseuki Dezimra? I am incredibly proud of our shul’s dedication to fostering our children’s involvement.

This week, we read the Haftorah linked to the Maftir for Parshat Hachodesh, highlighting the period leading up to Rosh Chodesh Nissan. However, this year, being a leap year, we read this Haftorah in conjunction with the themes of the Parsha as well.

After months of constructing the Mishkan and after Moshe spent a week inaugurating it, Aharon finally assumed his role as Kohen Gadol, taking on the daily responsibilities of the Avodat HaMishkan. Imagine the excitement and relief Aharon must have felt. No longer burdened by the thought that the repercussions of the חטא העגל would include him losing the Kehuna, he stepped into his predestined role. Aharon was now the first Kohen Gadol of the Jewish people, establishing a legacy for his descendants.

This excitement aimed to be rekindled with each construction of the Beit Hamikdash. It’s fascinating to see the increasing duration of celebration required for each rededication. This brings us to today’s Haftorah, unique to Parshat Hachodesh, which describes the future rededication of the Third Beit Hamikdash and the excitement surrounding the months-long dedication.

However, maintaining this excitement over time can be challenging. Pesach provides a model for how to sustain engagement. Every day, we fulfill the biblical commandment of remembering the exodus from Egypt, but once a year, the Pesach seder brings a renewed excitement. Families gather, engaging in rituals that evoke enthusiasm and participation from both children and adults. The Rambam even encourages handing out nuts to captivate the children’s attention and increase their excitement on the monumental annual event, much as we do in our Shul each and every week as our kids excitedly run to participate in the Tefillah.

The Haftorah we read today also underscores the importance of novelty in maintaining engagement. The Navi details the procedure for entering the Beit Hamikdash and the requirement to leave through a different exit during the pilgrimage festivals, unlike the usual practice of using the same entrance and exit. This ensures the experience remains fresh and engaging.

The lessons from the Chanukat Hamishkan, the doorways of the Beit Hamikdash, and Pesach teach us to use innovative ways to sustain the excitement of our daily rituals. The Beit Hamikdash represents the prayers we engage in three times a day, and even during Pesach, the novelty of the mitzvah is echoed in our daily Kiryat Shema.

As we transition towards Pesach, let us embrace the model of novelty it offers. Many of us are on vacation and have more time than usual. Last time I spoke from this pulpit, I encouraged everyone to add more Talmud Torah to their day. For those who have done so, continue your new schedules. For those who haven’t, perhaps consider adding a tefillah shiur to your routine. As a community, we will focus on tefillah in the coming weeks. Let’s use this extra time to introduce novelty into our daily prayers, enhancing our spiritual experience.