Upon his first entry into the Kodesh HaKodoshim on Yom Kippur, the Cohen Gadol would scoop a full shovel of burning coals from the top of the Mizbeach. He would also take: אֹלְמוּתֶרֹטְק ויָנְפָח his hands full of Ketores. We can suggest that a “full” handful symbolizes a person who is full, like Yaakov Avinu who said: לֹכ יִל שֶׁי וישלח לג יא I have EVERYTHING (my hands are full, and I’m a happy and content person); not like Eisav who said: בָר יִל שֶׁי ט גל חלשיו I have plenty (i.e., "I have a lot, but not enough").
Difficulties Are Opportunities for Growth, And Opportunities for Growth Are the Real “Having”
Dovid HaMelech said: ה' יִﬠֹר לֹא רָסְחֶא תהלים כג א Hashem is my Shepard (so) I will never be lacking. The true Oved Hashem is missing nothing (despite all Dovid’s horrific Nisyonos). Yaakov also had unusual Nisyonos, yet he said: לֹכ יִל שֶׁי וישלח לג יא I have EVERYTHING. RSRH Zatzal says that this is because by Yaakov, “having” means the opportunity to grow, and therefore he even welcomed his difficulties, since they are all opportunities of growth.
To Rejoice with Another Person’s Success, You Must Feel Fulfilled and Happy with Yourself
The: הָתְּחַמּ shovel was also full (of burning coals), and Chazal say that the Kodesh HaKodoshim became “full” with smoke (of the Ketores). And Ketores is: ֶשֲׁﬠַמּתֶר a major Segula to become rich! Ketores symbolizes having everything, and: וֹקְלֶחְבּ ַחֵמָשַּׂה ריִשָׁﬠ וּהֶזיֵא Who is truly “rich”? One who is Sameach B'chelko, i.e., content with what he has. Who is the only person who may enter the Kodesh HaKodoshim on Yom Kippur? Only the Cohen Gadol (Ahron). How did Ahron become Cohen Gadol? בֵל ויִחָא תַלוּדְגִבּ חַמָשֶׂשׁ Because his “heart” rejoiced with his brother’s greatness, so he received the Choshen on his “heart”, which had 12 יֵנְבַאםיִאוּלִּמ Avnei Milu'im (stones that filled their boxes).
Each Shevet filled his golden box with his unique precious stone; so too should every person feel fulfilled with his unique Avodas Hashem without having any Kin'ah of others. How does a person become happy (Ahron) when his younger brother (Moshe) gets a higher position then himself? When he is himself a fulfilled happy person!
Chazal say that Ketores also symbolizes Simcha and Bitachon. The Gr"a explains that when the Gemara says that the Churban Bais Hamikdash happened because of Sin'as Chinam, the Gemara really means that they did not have Bitachon, which is the root cause of Sin'as Chinam! And Bitachon means being a Sameach B'chelko. The Kiyum (support) of the Bais Hamikdash is having an Ahron type of Cohen Gadol, whom everyone should emulate. The first Avoda of Kodesh HaKodoshim on Yom Kippur is filling the Kodesh HaKodoshim with Ketores.
Sameach B'chelko Comes BEFORE Any Other Area in Avodas Hashem
You don’t start any Avodas Kapara (i.e., the blood of the Korban) until you first take care of Ketores. So many people suffer throughout their lives despite their greatness in Torah and Chesed. And like Chazal say that during Bayis Sheini they were Osek in Torah and Chesed, and despite this there was a Churban because of Sin'as Chinam and lack of Sameach B'chelko (Bitachon), so we understand how the finest Bnei Torah and Y'rei Shamayim can suffer physically and mentally, and their lives can be ruined since they never had time for working on the #1 issue; i.e., Bitachon!
רוֹמְגִל הָכאָלְמַּה ˃יֶלָﬠ אֹל אבות ב טז You are not responsible to get it all done! וֹקְלֶחְבּ ַחֵמָשַּׂה ריִשָׁﬠ וּהֶזיֵא Who is truly rich? One who is content with what he has. Before the Cohen Gadol starts shechting an ox and a goat, etc. he takes care of Ketores: ַה ַמ ֲﬠ ֶשׁ ֶרת which makes him (truly) rich; i.e., first comes the Sameach B'chelko issue! If Gedolei Yisroel like the Shomer Emunim and Chofetz Chaim believed that’s it’s K'dai to lose lots of Torah and Avoda to cheer and be M'chazek a Yid, רֶמוֹחָו לַקְו ןֵכֶּשׁ לָכּ surely you are obligated to be M'chazek yourself! ְוןיִמְדוֹק ˃יֶיַח And you come first! If you don’t address this part of your life, by learning Shaar HaBitachon more seriously, or other Eitzos for Menuchas HaNefesh and Simcha and Bitachon, by at least trying to work on it, then all kinds of Ruchaniyus and/or Gashmiyus issues are up and coming, Chas V'shalom.
