Sacrificing the Idea of Perfection
והנה תראה כי הוא לבדו ית״ש השלימות האמיתי המשולל מכל החסרונות ואין שלימות אחר כמוהו כלל.
And behold, see that HaShem’s alone is true perfection, devoid of all deficiencies. And there is no other perfection like it at all. – Derekh HaShem, Moshe Hayim Luzzatto, Amsterdam, 1745
“The better is the mortal enemy of the good.” – Pensées, Charles Louis de Montesquieu, 1726
Consider Aaron, getting ready for his first day of work. He’s been appointed by no less than HaShem to the highest ritual position, that of High Priest. In his priestly clothing he symbolizes the intimate and complex link between the Twelve Tribes of Israel and HaShem, and in that way, between earth and heaven.
He might be expected to strive for perfection in this position, since the Israelites will be looking to him as a perfect channel between the Source of Truth and Justice and their deepest needs, highest aspirations, and regular, reliable spiritual guidance.
Perhaps that’s why our parashat hashavua begins with this requirement of the High Priest on the first day of his new job:
זֶ֡ה קׇרְבַּן֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן וּבָנָ֜יו אֲשֶׁר־יַקְרִ֣יבוּ לַֽה’ בְּיוֹם֙ הִמָּשַׁ֣ח אֹת֔וֹ עֲשִׂירִ֨ת הָאֵפָ֥ה סֹ֛לֶת מִנְחָ֖ה תָּמִ֑יד מַחֲצִיתָ֣הּ בַּבֹּ֔קֶר וּמַחֲצִיתָ֖הּ בָּעָֽרֶב…כָּלִ֥יל תׇּקְטָֽר׃
This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to ‘ה on the occasion of his anointment: a tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular meal offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening…to be turned entirely into smoke. )Lev. 6.13-15, excerpt)
On the day of his initiation Aaron is to bring a קׇרְבַּן֩ , korban, which is best understood as bring-near, a sacrifice; on his first day of work, he is to sacrifice, perhaps, the expectation of perfection in his work. Note that it is entirely burned; he derives no sustenance from it, no souvenir of the first day of work. And it’s not even a lordly bull or majestic ram; it’s just a mixture of flour and oil, a simple batter that turns into a flatbread and then burns to ashes.
Up in smoke goes the perfect offering, and with it, perhaps, the expectation of perfection. What advice could be more important to give Aaron on this first day, when expectations and hopes are highest? This gentle message not to expect anything other than humanity – by definition, imperfection – is reminiscent of the compassionate Seder leader who makes sure to spill the wine onto the perfect tablecloth early, in full view of guests.
This is how we draw near to our best selves; not as visions of perfection, but as people who know how to respond to our own and each other’s mistakes with compassion. Not “cancelling”, but mercy.
All human projects would be best off with a spilled glass of something at the beginning, to remind us that we are not going to succeed in our dreams of perfection. Everything is at least a little bit broken, and only half-glimpsed at best; Aaron will continue trying the best he can to fulfill the role he has been given, and sometimes he’ll make mistakes.
The Torah teaches us in this way that sacrificing the idea – or ideal – of perfection is the only way we humans can persevere in our struggle to be good, and do good, in the world. Sometimes we will make mistakes, yes, even you and me, as near perfect as we try to be.
When that happens, remember the teaching of our ancestors: since the Temple altar was destroyed, the altar that matters most is the one we build in our hearts. We keep the small and steady flame of that fire burning not with impossible visions of perfection, but by daily sacrificing them so that we can look past that ego-driven obstacle to where our compassion is needed in the world, in the service of good that can be attained.
אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד תּוּקַ֥ד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה
A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out. (Lev. 6.6)
Torah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Ariel Stone 