the minchas chavitim and the midah of hischadshus

I feel bad for Parshas Tzav – between Zachor and Purim, it gets lost in the shuffle. 

Chazal learn from a gezeirah shavah that the minchas chavitim of Aharon offered every day was as pleasing to G-d as the presents the Nesi’im brought for chanukas hamishkan:

 ורבנן אמרי חביב קרבנו של אהרן לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא כקרבן של נשיאים בקרבנות של נשיאים כתיב זה קרבן נחשון בן עמינדב וכאן כתיב זה קרבן אהרן

There is nothing like opening day.  We all know that by June the Mets will be 10 games (halevai only 10) out of first place, but on March 31, home opener, everyone will still be excited.  The Nesi’im’s gift was brought to celebrate the inauguration of the Mishkan – opening day, with all the excitement.  Aharon’s korban was the dog days of August korban; it was the midseason, day in and day out long haul korban.  Nonetheless, it was equivalent to that of nesi’im – it was brought with the same enthusiasm as opening day (Sefas Emes).

 

As we once discussed, Rashi writes by the hadlakas hamenorah that the Torah teaches us that Aharon “lo shinah,” he did not deviate.  It goes without saying that Aharon never deviated from the halachic requirements of the mitzvah.  What made Aharon special is that he never deviated from lighting with that same enthusiasm that he had on the first day, even when it was the 1000^th day.

 

The kohen gadol brought on a daily basis the same korban as other kohanim bring on their first day of service because the kohen gadol embodied this midah of hischadshus - of always feeling renewed in his avodah, as if this day was the very first day all over again.

The Shem m’Shmuel points out that the word chinuch seems to have contradictory meanings.  On the one hand, we speak of chanukas habayis, an inauguration, the first time something is done.  On the other hand, chinuch means training, ensuring a behavior is repeated again and again.  Good chinuch is just that – a repetition of that first moment, with all its excitement and enthusiasm, over a lifetime.