Even before Sinai, the Jewish people merited an extraordinary closeness to God. According to the Sages, Abraham kept the entire Torah even before it was revealed at Mount Sinai. And his children learned from him, following his legacy of holiness.

If the Jewish people already adhered to the Torah's precepts, what then did the Revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai accomplish?

The sanctity of Israel before Sinai was not on a constant, permanent basis. The Midrash uses an intriguing term to describe the mitzvot of the Avot (Patriarchs). It refers to their service as fragrant. What does this mean? Their holiness contained elements of nobility and beauty, an inner spiritual richness and individual greatness. But this spiritual path was not firmly grounded in the world of actions. It was of a transient nature, like an aromatic — but passing — fragrance.

The Concrete Sanctity of Sinai

At Mount Sinai, the sacred fire was etched in our souls in its practical form. The people accepted the Torah in life and deed: "We will do and we will obey." For this reason, the Torah stresses that the Tamid offering was performed at Mount Sinai. This daily offering epitomizes the constant, concrete sanctity that was engraved in the very essence of the Jewish people at Sinai.

The two images of the Tamid burnt-offering — an "appeasing fragrance" and a fire-offering — indicate that it combines together both of these paths of holiness.

The daily offering retained the abstract beauty of the Patriarch's individual spirituality. It still exuded an "appeasing fragrance,"  recalling the fragrant service of the Avot. At the same time, it also reflected the constant and concrete sanctity of Sinai. It was a fire-offering. Like fire, it acted upon and ignited the physical realm, introducing light and holiness into the world of action and deed.

(adapted from Olat Re'iyah vol. I, pp. 131-2)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison