What would you bring with you? What could possibly prepare you for such an encounter?
Well, Rabbi Yudan, in Vayikra Rabbah 21, offers a fascinating perspective. He interprets the verse "for with stratagems you shall wage war for yourself" (Proverbs 24:6) as an allusion to the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies armed, not with weapons, but with something far more powerful: bundles upon bundles—ḥavilot—of mitzvot, good deeds.
Think of it: the High Priest isn't just walking in alone. He’s accompanied by a whole entourage of merits, each one a testament to the covenant between God and the Jewish people. These mitzvot act as advocates, whispering their good word on his behalf.
What exactly are these bundles? Rabbi Yudan breaks it down.
First, there's the merit of Torah. "This is the Torah" (vezot haTorah), Deuteronomy 4:44, it says. The Torah, our guide and instruction manual for life, walks with him. Then comes the merit of circumcision, brit milah, "This is My covenant" (zot brisi), Genesis 17:10. That physical sign of our eternal bond, a constant reminder of commitment, is there too.
And Shabbat, the day of rest, a weekly sanctuary in time. "Happy is the person who performs this…who keeps the Sabbath from its desecration" (Isaiah 56:2). The holiness of Shabbat accompanies him.
Jerusalem, the heart of our people, is also present: "This is Jerusalem" (zot Yerushalayim), Ezekiel 5:5. The very stones of our holy city speak on his behalf.
He carries the merit of the tribes, each unique and vital: "This is what their father spoke to them" (vezot asher diber lahem avihem), Genesis 49:28. The collective strength and history of the twelve tribes are there. Judah, too, with his own special blessing: "This is for Judah" (vezot l'Yehudah), Deuteronomy 33:7.
And what about Israel itself? "This, your stature" (zot komatēkh), Song of Songs 7:8. The Song of Songs, traditionally understood as an allegory for the love between God and Israel, lends its passionate devotion to the High Priest’s cause. It’s a beautiful and powerful image.
Even contributions and tithes play their part. "This is the contribution" (vezot ha-terumah), Exodus 25:3, and "[bring all the tithes to the storehouses…] test me now with this" (bazot), Malachi 3:10. Our acts of generosity, our willingness to share what we have, these too are a source of merit.
Finally, the offerings themselves: "With this Aaron shall come" (bezot yavo Aharon), Leviticus 16:3. The sacrifices, symbolic of our desire to draw closer to God, complete the High Priest’s arsenal of merit.
So, what does this all mean? Rabbi Yudan paints a picture of the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies not as a lone individual, but as a representative of the entire Jewish people, carrying with him the weight and the glory of our collective covenant. He is bolstered by every good deed, every act of devotion, every moment of connection to the Divine.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What bundles of mitzvot are we carrying with us? What merits are we accumulating in our daily lives? Perhaps, like the High Priest, we too can approach the Divine, not with fear, but with the confidence that comes from a life lived in accordance with God's will.