“Holy to Hashem” (28:36)
The 402 bus was 50 minutes late. An increasingly large number of people gathered at the bus stop becoming increasingly frustrated and angry. Finally, a bus came - but not the 402; it was the 450. The doors opened and everybody crowded into the bus, demanding that the driver call the bus company and send them a 402 immediately, and threatening that they would not leave the bus until the 402 arrived. The driver said, “Okay, I’ll call them, but I want everybody off the bus first.” They all got off the bus, the doors closed, and the bus driver climbed up in his seat, took the number 450 down and replaced it with the number 402.
Everyone smiled in disbelief. What a nice guy! Everyone got back on the bus. They were so happy with the bus driver that he had changed his route. This was a first in the history of Israeli buses! Well, it wasn’t quite like that.
What actually happened was that the original 402 bus had a flat tire and was running so late that no other driver at the depot fancied greeting a crowd of such irate passengers who had been waiting for fifty minutes. Finally one of the drivers said, “Okay. I’ll go.” And so, the 402 finally left the depot.
Just before arriving at the stop, the driver changed the number of the bus from 402 to 450, and then he drove up to the bus stop. The only thing that changed was the number. Very often in life, we’re waiting for the “402”. We feel — “It’s coming to me.” I deserve it. When things go wrong, we burn with frustration in direct proportion to our sense of entitlement.
Chazal explain that the tzitz – the golden headplate worn by the High Kohen - the Kohen HaGadol - atones for brazenness — for a person who acts as though the world revolves around him. The Kohen Gadol wears “Kodesh LaShem” on his forehead — the place of ego, identity, expectation. The message is clear: this is not about you. Everything is from Hashem. When a person internalizes this — that every bus, every delay, every outcome is sent precisely by Divine Providence — then even a “450” bus is a gift. The event doesn’t change. The number changes.
Tetzaveh teaches us to engrave “Kodesh LaShem” onto the forehead of our expectations.
