Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta Mezibuz
Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov mishkenosecha Yisrael – “How good are your tents, O Yaakov, and your tabernacles, Yisrael” (24:5).
The Apta Rav, in Ohev Yisrael, uses this pasuk to illustrate an experience that many of us have had in our Avodas Hashem. Sometimes we feel a great vitality and a spiritual awakening right away as soon as we begin the Avoda. Right at the start we are motivated to serve Hashem and we feel charged and exhilarated by this experience. However, at other times our Avoda may feel sluggish or dim and lack any form of vitality or motivation; only at the very end are we rewarded with a feeling of dveikus or a sense of accomplishment or achievement.
The Apta Rav categorizes these two forms of Avoda as corresponding to the two well-known archetypal spiritual levels of ovdim: those who serve Hashem are either of the bechina (aspect) of Yaakov, or on a higher level called Yisrael. Those who serve as Yaakov are characterized by the Yud Akev, which spells Yaakov; they feel the G-dliness at the heel, at the end of the Avoda, whereas those named Yisrael are characterized by Li Rosh, which spells Yisrael and means the head; they experience the dveikus at the head or forefront when their Avoda begins.
The Apta Rav says that our pasuk is a berocha that blesses us with the best form of Avoda. We are told how great it is when your Avoda in the form of Yaakov is like a tent. An ohel (tent) is a temporary dwelling; if our Avoda starts off on the wrong foot, only at the heel or end is it alive and meaningful – but this should be just a temporary state that passes. We are given the berocha that the higher level called Yisrael, which characterizes the Avoda of feeling immediate excitement and vitality right from the start should be as a Mishkon, a permanent dwelling. May we be blessed to dwell on this level always, Amen!
