Sapphire brick and the appearance of the heavens for clarity

(Exodus 24:10)

Shevat 28, 5777/February 24, 2017

"and they perceived the G-d of Israel, and beneath His feet was like the forming of a sapphire brick and like the appearance of the heavens for clarity." (Exodus 24:10)

We tend to equate the revelation at Mount Sinai with the giving of the Ten Commandments. But, in fact, the Ten Commandments were merely G-d's opening salvo of a searingly intense transmission of Torah commandments and spiritual experiences that He directed at Israel on that day. "Searingly," because the Sinai experience forever seared the Torah, in its entirety, upon the hearts and souls of Israel, throughout all her generations. "Intense," because these were not easy commandments to assimilate into the lifestyle of the new-born nation, but required study and far reaching insight in order to transform them into the pillars and basis of our 'everyday' lives. And again "intense," because of the power of G-d's revelation of His Being, first to the entire nation at Sinai, and later, to a smaller 'elite' group which included "Moshe and Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel." (ibid 24:9)

G-d's revelation to the entire nation of Israel is understood as an integral aspect of His creating a covenant with Israel, expressly with every man, woman and child, and with every generation henceforth. But what is the meaning of the later, much more selective, yet no less provocative, revelation referred to above? If it was only intended for a select group of elites, why is it being decribed to us? If it was a one time glimpse at G-d's glory afforded to a privileged few, why is Torah sharing it with us? And while the earlier Sinai revelation before the entire people was necessary to inscribe their hearts with the all-encompassing reality of G-d, what are we to make of the later "sapphire brick" revelation? Does G-d grant gratuitous revelations?

"And upon the elite of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand, and they perceived G-d, and they ate and drank." (ibid 24:11) Torah shares two aspects of this revelation: the heavenly vision itself, and the earthly reality of those who were granted the revelation. Torah itself seems to find this remarkable and our sages question how G-d, who otherwise seems so 'jealous' of whom He grants heavenly insight, could tolerate their apparent insouciance? After all, this is G-d sharing His Being with them. This is no Instagram or Tweet! Full attention, eyes forward, is demanded!

The unsettling dichotomy between the "sapphire brickwork" beneath G-d's "feet" and the partaking of food and beverage isn't entirely unfamiliar to us. We recall, generations earlier, that when Avraham was being visited by G-d, three strangers approached. Avraham rushed to welcome them, abruptly ending His encounter with G-d. His first act was to wash their feet from the dust of the earth and then to invite them in to eat and drink. (Genesis 18:1-4) Of course, we know that these three strangers were angels, emanations of G-d's desire to meet with man in man's world, on a level playing field, as it were. The feet of the angels, and later of G-d, Himself, which in either case do not exist, were a metaphor for the lowest reaches of G-d's Presence, where G-d is able to communicate with man in a voice than man can understand. This is the world of man's earthly needs, where eating and drinking are necessary for man's sustenance, and without which man would not be there for G-d to communicate with.

Eating and drinking in the Presence of G-d, as well as the performance of all our other earthly needs, are not an affront to G-d as long as we engage in the fulfilling of our needs while fully aware that the sustenance which we partake of, its nutritional value, its taste and its ability to gratify our souls, is a direct gift from G-d, a daily expression of His love for us. To see before us a vision of "the appearance of the heavens for clarity" while we partake of the gifts of heaven is the goal of the Torah from Sinai. To eat and drink in darkness, focused not on G-d, but on mundanity, this is an affront to G-d!

The message of the vision of the "sapphire brickwork" is intended for all of us. We can all lift ourselves above the mundane and join the select group of all who live their day-to-day lives in full awareness of the Presence of G-d and His enduring love for us. We can all join this 'select' group. The Torah commandments are our ticket in.

The vision of the "sapphire brickwork" can be relived every day at our table. When we make blessings over our food before partaking, discuss Torah while eating and bless G-d after concluding our meals, we are reliving the "sapphire brickwork" revelation. The Temple offerings performed at the great stone altar reenacted the "sapphire brickwork" revelation, writ large, for all the world to experience, on a daily basis.

-The Temple Institute