That feeling, that little twist of perspective, is at the heart of a beautiful teaching from Vayikra Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Book of Leviticus.
Rabbi Yehuda, quoting Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, starts with a verse from Proverbs: "Hear, my son, and take my sayings" (Proverbs 4:10). But it's not just about passively receiving wisdom. It's about the taking itself. According to the Rabbis, God commands us to take certain actions, not because He needs them, but because we need them.
Think about the parah adumah, the red heifer (Numbers 19:2). God commands the Israelites to take a completely red cow for a purification ritual. Was this for God's benefit? Absolutely not! It was “for your benefit, to purify you,” says the text, echoing Numbers 19:19: “The pure person shall sprinkle upon the impure person.” The act of purification, the act of taking the red heifer, wasn't about some divine need; it was about our own spiritual cleansing.
And what about the terumah, the offering for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:2)? God says, "They shall take Me a gift [veyikḥu li teruma]… They shall make Me a sanctuary" (Exodus 25:8). The Rabbis in Vayikra Rabbah point out something profound here. It doesn’t say "They shall take a gift [veyikḥu teruma]," but "They shall take Me [veyikḥu li]." It's as if God is saying, "You're not just giving Me something; you're taking Me into your lives, into your community. Take Me and I will reside in your midst." It’s a powerful image, isn't it?
Consider the pure olive oil for the ner tamid, the eternal flame (Leviticus 24:2). Does God need our light? Of course not! As it says in Daniel 2:22, "The light rests with Him." The reason for this commandment, according to the Rabbis, is “to accord you merit and to atone for your souls.” Our souls are likened to a lamp, as Proverbs 20:27 states: "The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord; He searches all the chambers of the belly." By providing the oil, we are tending to our own spiritual light, ensuring it continues to shine.
And finally, the lulav and etrog, the palm branch, citron, myrtle, and willow taken on Sukkot (Leviticus 23:40): "You shall take for you on the first day." Again, the Rabbis emphasize that this mitzvah, this commandment, is "in order to accord you merit so I will cause rain to fall for you." Taking these items, celebrating the holiday, opens the gates for blessing.
So, what's the takeaway here? It's a beautiful reminder that many of the things we do, seemingly for a higher power, are actually profound acts of self-care and self-improvement. They are opportunities to draw closer to the Divine, yes, but also to purify ourselves, to illuminate our souls, and to open ourselves to blessing. And that, my friends, is a gift worth taking.