Posted on 09/06/24
Napoleon Bonaparte (1768-1821) was the emperor of France from 1804-1814 and is regarded as one of history’s greatest military leaders. A unique aspect about Napoleon was that he was known to be relatively short in terms of physical stature. The story is told of Napoleon who was one time trying to grab something that was high up, however, it was beyond his reach. One of his servants standing nearby, said, “Don’t worry, I’m bigger than you, let me grab it for the king!”
Napoleon responded to his servant, “You are taller than me, however, I am still bigger!”
Physical stature is one thing. But it is certainly not the full picture. Qualitative largeness is much bigger than quantitative largeness!
The Sefer Shemen Rosh, written by Rav Asher Anshil Katz, uses this story of Napoleon to explain the qualitative loftiness and largeness of the Bais HaMikdash. Chazal teach us (see Rashi, Shoftim 17:8, see also Sifri Devarim 152:15) that the Bais HaMikdash was גבוה מכל המקומות – higher than all other places on Earth!
Can you find places that are physically taller than the Bais HaMikdash? Certainly. However, Chazal are teaching us a profound insight, namely, that the holiness of the Bais HaMikdash made that place the HIGHEST place on Earth! Not from a physical perspective of quantitative largeness, but from a deep spiritual perspective of qualitative largeness.
When a person moves to Eretz Yisroel it is called “making an Aliyah,” which means to go up. Perhaps, one of the sources for this concept is from our very Parshah, in Chapter 17, Verse 8. The Torah tells us וקמת ועלית – you should make the journey up to the Bais HaMikdash, the place that G-d, your G-d, will choose! It does not matter if you are traveling from Mount Everest, the Burj Khalifa, or any other place that may be physically taller. If you are going to the Land of Eretz Yisroel, you are going up!
As we embark on the Teshuva transformation journey of Chodesh Elul, we can use the symbol of the Shofar to guide us on an upward trajectory of spiritual prowess and qualitative largeness. The Shofar, of course, is a horn that begins with a small opening, and gradually gets bigger and bigger.
Our Avodah is to do the same. To take small steps towards greatness. To have that מקום המקדש on our horizon. To constantly be looking up, to grow higher and higher and to get closer and closer to Hashem.
Have a holy Shabbos!