Mikeitz 1987: Deriving Reality from Connection to Hashem

The shiur explores a fundamental Midrash discussing what constitutes the klal gadol baTorah—the foundational principle of the entire Torah (תורה). Rabbi Akiva famously says it is "v'ahavta l'reacha kamocha" (love your neighbor as yourself). Ben Azai challenges this: if a person has low self-esteem or a poor self-image, how can he love others as himself? Ben Azai therefore proposes that the klal gadol is "zeh sefer toldos adam" (this is the book of the generations of man). A third opinion, from Rav Shimon ben Pazi, suggests that the klal gadol is "es hakeves echad ta'aseh baboker"—the daily korban tamid offering. The central question addressed is: where does a person derive his sense of reality and well-being? What gives a person a feeling of existence and self-worth? Rav Shimon ben Pazi's answer—the korban tamid—symbolizes Klal Yisrael's daily reaffirmation of commitment to Hashem (ה׳). The korban tamid represents collective tefillah and avodah, the collective declaration that Hashem is King. This connection is reinforced by the fact that on Shiva Asar B'Tammuz, when the luchos were broken due to the nation's rejection of Hashem (similar to being mumar l'davar echad regarding korban Pesach (פסח)), the korban tamid was also nullified. The Torah itself describes the korban tamid as "ha'asuy b'Har Sinai," linking it to the original covenant at Sinai.