Chapter 1

המזבח עץ שלש אמות גבה וארכו שתי אמות ומקצעותיו ול וארכו וקירותיו עץ וידבר אלי הז השלחן אשר לפני ה

“The altar, which was made of wood, was three cubits high and two cubits long. Its corners, length and walls were also made of wood. And He said to me: ‘This is the table that is before the L-rd.’ ”1

The prophet Yechezkel here tells the exiled Jews of G-d’s promise that after we have received our punishment, He will assemble us from all the lands of our exile, through the righteous Moshiach, and we will all go to Eretz Yisroel. Not one single Jew will be left behind. Then G-d will build the Holy Temple.

In depicting the Temple [and its furnishings], Yechezkel describes the Golden Altar. He tells us that it is made of wood and plated with gold. He also speaks of the table upon which was placed the lechem hapanim, the showbread. The Gemara asks:2 “[Why is it that] the verse begins by describing the altar and concludes by discussing the table?” Answers the Gemara: “Rabbis Yochanan and Elazar both say: ‘During the time the Temple existed, the altar (i. e. the sacrificial offerings) brought about atonement for Jews’ sins; in exile, this is accomplished through a man’s “table”, i.e. the guests a person invites to his table.’ ”

We must understand Rabbi Yochanan’s and Elazar’s statement that nowadays inviting guests to one’s table accomplishes the same thing that used to be achieved by the [outer] altar upon which sacrificial offerings were brought, and the inner altar upon which incense was offered.

How can we compare man’s eating to the altar’s consumption? Man ingests physical food, while the altar’s consumption was spiritual in nature; comparing man’s eating nowadays to the highest degree of atonement achieved by offerings during the Temple’s existence is very puzzling.

The matter is as follows: Rabbis Yochanan and Elazar both say that “man’s table offers atonement.” Why do they use the term “man’s table” rather than “man’s meal” or “man’s eating,” [which would more clearly indicate that reference is being made to the food eaten rather than to the table itself]? Surely their words are precise and this phrase is used with specific intent.

Every word uttered by our sages of blessed memory [contains not only its simple meaning, but also] hints at a more profound meaning the inner portion of Torah, the soul of each study-section and law. Just as the body derives its life from the soul that vivifies it, Torah is a composite of body and soul;3 the exoteric portion is its body and the esoteric portion the soul that gives it life.

This is so regarding all study-sections and laws of the Torah. How much more so with regard to the homiletic passages of our sages, where the simple meaning itself is but an allusion to and implication of matters of great profundity and must be understood as such. Thus, these homiletic passages are in and of themselves “Torah secrets,” as the [Alter] Rebbe states in Iggeres HaKodesh, Epistle 23:4 “Most Torah secrets are to be found in the homiletic portion of the Torah.” It is for this reason that when one studies the homiletic teachings in Ein Yaakov [a book discussing the homiletic passages of the Talmud] with a quorum of 10, it will bring atonement for a person’s iniquities.

[There is another instance where the expression “man’s table” is used. One of the meritorious acts that leads to longevity is accomplished by] one “who tarries at his table,” as stated in the Gemara.5 Here, too, the term “table” is used rather than “tarries at his meal” or “tarries while eating.” Clearly, the term is used for a reason.

The matter is as follows: With sacrificial offerings, it is imperative that one offer from the “fattest”6 that the offering be choice. Regarding man’s table, however, the important thing is that “he tarry at the table;” one should eat not for the pleasure one derives from the food, but because of the benefit he derives from it7 that he be healthy. As our sages instruct us:8 “This is the way [to acquire] Torah: eat bread with salt….”

The Torah teaches the Jew not only that which may or may not be eaten, it also instructs him as to what end food should be eaten. This is because every Jew is9 both a son and a servant of G-d.

In summary: The prophecy concerning the building of the Holy Temple which will take place when Moshiach comes is explained. The verse quoted at the opening of the discourse tells us about the altar and the table of the showbread. The Gemara states that during the time of the Holy Temple, the altar brought atonement; now it comes from man’s table [upon which he eats]. The following questions are asked: a) what comparison can there be between the altar and man’s table, b) what is meant by man’s table, c) why is the word “table” used rather than “meal” or “repast”? In the homiletic portion of Torah, even the simple meaning alludes to profound matters. The Torah is teaching us how to eat [with proper intent].