There are many wings in the king’s palace, and in each wing there are many servants doing their work. Each wing has one supervisor who oversees them and ensures everything is done in the best possible way. Over all the supervisors there is a general manager, and above him, of course, stands the king himself in all his glory. If one of the supervisors responsible for the workers’ tasks comes and asks a worker to install a new shelf, of course the worker must do what he was asked. And if the supervisor tells him that the request came from the general manager, then certainly the worker will hurry even more to fulfill his duty. But if he hears that the request came from the king himself, then he will immediately drop all his other activities and go at once to install the requested shelf. Not only that, but he will do everything with utmost perfection, and all of it with tremendous joy.
Last week, we focused here on Rashi’s holy commentary, where he explained the verse “I am Hashem” – “Faithful to give reward.” And now, in our parsha this week, regarding the mitzvah of the prohibition of “Nosar” (leftover sacrificial meat), Rashi explains: “I am Hashem” – “Know who decreed this matter, and do not treat it lightly.” Of course, we know that both explanations apply to all commandments, and we must infer from one mitzvah to another and understand on our own: it is Hashem Yisbarach Who decreed all the commandments, and He Yisbarach, is destined to give reward for all of them. But here, in the prohibition of Nosar, Rashi explains that all this is said only about the intention of leaving over sacrificial meat—not the actual eating of it.
Therefore, it is fitting that specifically here Rashi interprets: “I am Hashem – know who decreed this matter, and do not treat it lightly,” so that we understand that even for a mere thought, we must remember “who decreed this matter,” and then our attitude will match accordingly.
Let us imagine ourselves as that servant in the king’s palace, who upon hearing that the king himself is asking him to do something—he performs it joyfully and eagerly. So too, if we would always remind ourselves before every mitzvah “Who decreed this matter,” then the performance of the mitzvah would also be entirely different—more complete, more beautiful, with thoughtful intention, and most importantly—with tremendous joy over the privilege we have been granted “to fulfill the will of our Creator.”
