What is the definition of a table? A table is a piece of furniture having a smooth flat top that is usually supported by one or more vertical legs. Similarly, our world stands on three things: Torah study, on the service [of G-d] and on kind deeds (i.e. bestowing kindness).
(ב) שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק הָיָה מִשְּׁיָרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים:
(2) Shimon the Righteous was from the remnants of the Great Assembly. He would say, "On three things the world stands: on the Torah, on the service and on acts of lovingkindness."
The Sages said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: Young students came today to the study hall and said things the likes of which were not said even in the days of Joshua bin Nun. These children who only knew the Hebrew alphabet interpreted the letters homiletically.
Alef beit means learn [elaf] the wisdom [bina] of the Torah.
Gimmel dalet means give to the poor [gemol dalim]. Why is the leg of the gimmel extended toward the dalet? Because it is the manner of one who bestows loving-kindness to pursue the poor. And why is the leg of the dalet extended toward the gimmel? It is so that a poor person will make himself available to him who wants to give him charity. And why does the dalet face away from the gimmel? It is to teach that one should give charity discreetly so that the poor person will not be embarrassed by him.
Lechem HaPanim is translated as show-bread. Bread is made of flour.
(יז) רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אוֹמֵר... אִם אֵין קֶמַח, אֵין תּוֹרָה. אִם אֵין תּוֹרָה, אֵין קֶמַח.
(17) Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah says: If there is no flour, there is no Torah; if there is no Torah, there is no flour.
Panim literally means face. As Rabbi Avigdor Miller zt”l says, “One’s face is like a screen and his soul like a projector which projects on his face the glory of the human soul, which has in it the greatness of Hashem.”[1] In addition, the Gemara[2] states, “Each person’s face is different because a person’s mind[3] is reflected in his face.”
[1] 10 steps to Greatness by Rav Avigdor Miller z''l, #7. See also Sefer Pischei Sha’arim by Yitzchak Isaac, #16.
[3] see Nefesh Hachaim by Rabbi Avraham Yaakov Finkel, pages 55-56.
Tamid means always or constantly. What is the definition of always? 1) At all times; all the time and on every occasion. 2) Seemingly without interruption; often and repeatedly. Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried[1] says, “I put Hashem before me always” (i.e. He always is involved in my daily life in whatever I do).
[1] Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:1.
What do these words come to teach us? A table is like bread. What do I mean? In order for a table to remain sturdy it needs to have all its legs, otherwise, it will topple over. Similarly, the body of a person needs sustenance in order to function effectively (sturdy).
With Hashem’s help, we should incorporate all these concepts into our lives!
This article is dedicated:
- In memory of Eliyahu ben Mordechai, Mashah Tzivyah bas R’ Shlomo Zalman, Altah Soshah Devorah bas Aryeh Leibush, Chaim ben Shmuel Efraim Zalman, Tuvyah Shlomo ben Naftali Tzvi HaKohein, Esther Perel bas R’ Shlomo, Miriam bas Zelig Shaul, Menachem ben Shimon, Menachem ben Zev, Sarah bas HaRav Yisroel, Yosef ben Moshe HaLevi, Yisroel ben Yeshayah, Elisheva Basyah bas Yechiel Ephraim and all the other departed souls of our nation.
- For the complete recovery of Chayah Malka bas Bas-Sheva, among the other sick ones of our nation.