Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Hot Bread

Rashi brings an opinion that the מקלל was inspired to his actions from the showbread לגלג ואמר ביום השבת יערכנו, דרך המלך לאכול פת חמה בכל יום, או שמא פת צוננת של תשעה ימים, בתמיה.  It isn't clear why a man should be inspired to curse G-d merely because he thinks the priests din't get fresh bread.  Maybe he would find that upsetting but to go ahead and curse G-d seems to be taking it way too far.  Why did he feel the need to curse because of this?  I will this this question hanging.
The Gemorah Chagigah (26b) says that indeed the bread didn't become cold - מלמד שמגביהין אותו ומראין בו לעולי רגלים לחם הפנים ואומרים להם ראו חיבתכם לפני המקום סילוקו כסידורו דא"ר יהושע בן לוי נס גדול נעשה בלחם הפנים כסידורו כך סילוקו שנאמר (שמואל א כא, ז) לשום לחם חום ביום הלקחו.  Why did the bread remain hot; was a miracle warranted just for the kohanim to enjoy hot bread?
Rav Hutner in Pachad Yitzchak Pesach maamer 58 explains this point.  I will write my understanding of his words which may be way off.  The Bechai in Berashis points out that decay, death, rotting aren't natural.  If man had not sinned, indeed the body would have lasted forever.  It is only because of the sin of man that spoilage was introduced into the world.  בפנימיות everything should maintain the same freshness and strength as  it had at the time of existence.  In the Mikdash, especially in the לחם הפנים, the bread that reflect פנימיות, the bread remains with the same freshness as it had at the time of the baking.
The simple interpretation I believe is that the nes isn't necessary, the language of the Gemorah indicates that indeed the miracle isn't necessary, it is to reflect the great love Hashem has for us that he wanted the Kohanim to enjoy hot bread.

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