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Why is "es hakeves echad ta'aseh baboker" considered a klal gadol baTorah? The shiur explores how the Korban Tamid answers Ben Azzai's challenge to Rabbi Akiva: if ve'ahavta l'reiacha kamocha requires self-love, how do we develop self-esteem? Two approaches emerge—disciplined consistency gives control over life, and recognizing that Hashem (ה׳) desires our avodah reveals our intrinsic worth.
The shiur begins by examining a fundamental debate about klal gadol baTorah—the most foundational principle of Torah (תורה). Rabbi Akiva identifies "ve'ahavta l'reiacha kamocha" (love your fellow as yourself), but Ben Azzai challenges this: what if someone is "bozui b'einecha"—has low self-esteem? How can the Torah command loving others as oneself when the starting point—self-love—is missing? Ben Azzai proposes "zeh sefer toldos Adam" as an alternative. A Midrash brought by the Maharal introduces a third candidate from Parashas Tetzaveh: "es hakeves echad ta'aseh baboker, v'es hakeves hasheini ta'aseh bein ha'arbayim"—the command regarding the twice-daily Korban Tamid. This seems puzzling: why would a technical instruction about daily sacrifices qualify as klal gadol baTorah?
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Shemos 29:38-39 (Parashas Tetzaveh)
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