Always A Party

“Always remember that there are two temidim every day.”

This cryptic statement was once shared by a father with his wise son. The son was perplexed like you might be. At first, he thought that his father was reminding him that there were two korbanos brought daily in the Temple. Each day began with the morning tamid sacrifice and ended with the afternoon tamid. Yet, a deeper meaning of the father’s words still eluded his son.

Perhaps Father was referring to an idea based on the Ein Yaakov commentary to the Talmud. The Ein Yaakov quotes a Talmudic opinion that the central verse in the Torah is the one that commands us to bring a tamid in the morning and a tamid in the afternoon. Some suggest that the reason this verse is so central is that it emphasizes consistency. Every day – weekday or Shabbos, rain or shine, hot or cold, the tamid was brought. Father was reminding son to use that model of consistency in his own life. Whether your mood drives you to serve Hashem or might pull you the other way, be consistent. Had the father meant that advice, it would have been, indeed, a worthwhile message for his son.

Yet, Rav Asher Weiss suggests a deeper meaning in that pithy statement. (I had the privilege of seeing this in the special edition of Minchas Asher on Shemos newly printed for the Israeli soldiers, published by the Tzalash organization.) Father exhorted son to remember the two bookends of the Rama in the Shulchan Aruch. The Rama begins Shulchan Aruch with the phrase “shivisi Hashem l’negdi tamid, I place Hashem constantly in front of me (tamid).” The Rama ends Shulchan Aruch with a discussion about whether you must have a meal to celebrate Purim Katan in Adar I. The Rama concludes Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim) by saying that whether you have a meal or not, “Tov Lev Mishteh Tamid, a person of good heart is constantly at a party.”

The advice the father was giving his son was to remember those two “Tamids.” Use the Divine presence as the lodestar in your life. Perennially place Hashem’s presence in front of your eyes, and let it direct your behaviors, choices, and decisions. At the same time, elevate your mind and fill it with passion and enthusiasm. Feel the joie de vivre of a life in Divine service. Let the joy of Judaism pulsate through your veins. As you go through a life according to the Shulchan Aruch, let it always embody the beginning and the end of the Shulchan Aruch. Make it a life of centering service of Hashem in the forefront of your mind – Tamid. And let you feel the simcha of your beautiful life in your heart – Tamid.

As we celebrate Purim Katan, how are we doing with those two Tamids? Is Torah the guide for our decisions and choices? How about the last Tamid? Do we feel Tov Lev – a joy in our hearts? Are we subject to the vicissitudes of others and let their moods affect us? Are we happy with who we are? Do we enjoy life as it is for us? Are we able to see the beauty of each day, even when the sun is obfuscated by clouds?

In our journey in life, perhaps we can do well to remind ourselves of the two Tamids. Each day is a new opportunity to navigate our lives based on Torah. It also brings us the ability to reinvigorate ourselves with passion, joy, and love of a life well-lived. Indeed, that seems like a reason to celebrate even when Purim Katan departs – Tamid!