Segulos are very sought after, and understandably so. Everyone is searching for a yeshuah and everyone needs help in different areas. So, where do we turn?
The pasuk 30:1 you should make a mizbayach ketores, which is the inner mizbayach or gold mizbayach. Why is this mizbayach not mentioned in Parshas Teruma together with all other vessels of the mishkan? Why is it only mentioned here after talking about the bigdei kehuna?
The Meshech Chochma and others answer that indeed there is a difference between the inner mizbayach and all other vessels in the mishkan. All the other vessels of the mishkan are absolutely vital to the avodah and without them the avodah couldn't happen. Without the outer mizbayach, we wouldn't be able to be makriv korbanos. Without the Shulchan, there would be no place to put the lechem hapanim, and so on. The only exception is the ketores. Even if we didn't have the inner mizbayach, we could still be maktir the ketores. To make this distinction, the Torah put the mizbayach haketores in a different parsha.
Rav Moshe Shternbuch (BiurimV’hanhagos) says that the inner mizbayach, which is for the ketores, has a tremendous segula that works wonders more than any other avoda that the kohen does. That’s why it’s mentioned after the bigdei kehuna. The gemora says in Maseches Erachin 16, that all the bigdei kehuna correspond to different midos that one has to fix up. For example, the kesones brings a kapara for murder, which includes if one embarrassed someone in public. The mitznefes comes to atone for ga'avah, haughtiness, the efod atones for avodah zara, and so on. Only after one fixes up his midos, which is through the bigdei kahuna, then he can be maktir the ketores and get the segula of the ketores. But as long you don’t fix up your midos the ketores won’t do much for you. And that's why the golden mizbayach is mentioned only after the bigdei kehuna, to teach us that you first have to fix yourself up before bringing the ketores. Working on yourself and improving your middos is the only way to get the segulah of ketores.
Rav Valach (Sefer Maayan Hashavua) brings a story with Rav Chaim Tzanzer (Divrei Chaim). Already when he was a young child, it was obvious to all that he destined for greatness. He was extraordinarily gifted and towered above his peers both in his Torah learning as well as his midos and Yiras Shamayim. Once, his father told him that he wished to buy him a "prize" as a special reward. What would he want? The child responded that when his father would go to the Chozeh of Lublin, he would like to go along. His father was surprised at his request, but happily agreed. Once they arrived, they received a brocha from the Chozeh and the father turned to leave, but the child wouldn't budge. He remained in the Rebbe's room, staring at the Chozeh as people came and went. He hung on to every word and watched every move that the Rebbe made. Suddenly, the Rebbe called out, "Everyone, please leave the room for a few minutes". Everyone left besides the young child who remained in the room and hid behind the Rebbe's chair. The Rebbe took out a mishnayos and started learning. When he finished, he called out to the child and said, "I know that you are here. And I didn’t send you out because I wanted you to remain here and see what I was doing. See my child, the only way to be able to give good advice to people is if you are connected to the Torah. There are no shortcuts. You can daven and plead, but the main thing is to learn Torah. People come to me with all different types of problems, some need help with parnasa, some with health etc. When I am with people for such a long time, I become disconnected from Torah and I have to stop for a while and refresh my learning. Only once I reconnect to Torah can I continue helping people out. Because without the Torah, I am unable to help them.
Now, why am I telling you this? Because I know that there will come a time when you will be a Rebbe and people will come to you with all their problems, so I want you know the correct way. Learning Torah is the only way you'll be able to help them.
This story reminds me of another story about the Divrei Chaim, when he was already a well-known Rebbe. On Rosh Hashana before tekias shofar, the Rebbe used to isolate himself in his private room and no one was allowed to be present at that time. The chasidim were saying to themselves, for sure the Rebbe is occupied in kavanos right before tekias shofar to be prepared for shofar in the best possible way. Once, while they were waiting, there arose a question of pekuach nefesh. With no choice, the gabbai walked in without permission. What did he see? The Rebbe was learning a piece from Ketzos Hachoshen like a young student in yeshiva. To their surprise, he wasn’t involving himself in lofty kavanos. But you don’t ask questions to a Rebbe.
Years later, a grandson of the Klausenberg Rebbe explained the hanhaga of his grandfather. As we mentioned in the previous story, there is nothing greater than learning Torah.
The Klausenberg Rebbe explained this with a mashal. There was a man who had gone overseas for a while and was finally returning to his family. All his children were overjoyed, but each one for a different reason. The very young ones were excited to see the gifts that their father surely bought for them. The older ones longed for their father's warmth, for his hugs and closeness. The most mature children just want their father back; they simply rejoice to be in his presence once more. Similarly, on Rosh Hashana we all ask for different things. We have so many requests, both ruchniyus and gashmiyus. Now, back to our mashal – will those children get what they want? Well, if the father is in a "good mood" and achieved the purpose of his travels, then it's likely that he will want to please his children and fulfill their desires. But if he returns upset from his travels, then his children should just be quiet and wait for a better time. So, how can we be sure that Hashem will be happy with us and desire to fulfill our wishes for the coming year? That is accomplished only through limud hatorah.
That is why the Divrei Chaim was busy learning before tekias shofar. That's what the Chozeh of Lublin taught the Divrei Chaim when he was a young child. You want something, learn Torah. Through learning we connect to Hashem and then we will receive the bounty we wish for. There are lots of segulos out there. They're all good bonuses – but they're just bonuses. The main thing – and this cannot be substituted – is learning Torah and fixing up our middos. Let's prioritize correctly and not mix up the secondary "bonuses" as the primary focus. Learn Torah and improve your middos – it's the only way to connect to Hashem and receive blessings.
