The Scents
And Sense

Stgewsvo•delir

6029 Rochester Road I Troy, MI 48085 I 248-828-7474
onceuponachildtroy.com

Of The

Today's dollars have to stretch further than ever.

lyah

And with kids growing out of their clothes, toys and other necessities faster than
ever, you need a respite.
Once Upon a Child is here to help. The store buys "gently" used clothing,
toys and equipment for resale.

Troy owners Erin and Peggy Morehouse have 2,800 square feet of
value for your shopping pleasure.

Parshat Ki Tisa: Exodus 30:11-34:35;
I Kings 18:1-18:39.

Fmm the half-shekel poll tax
that prefaces our parshah, to
the golden calf that stands at
its center, Ki Tisa is rich in bullion.
Silver, bronze and gold appear through-
out our reading, from the Tabernacle's
resplendent vessels to the jewelry the
Israelites removed in repen-
tance and guilt for their
apostasy.
So weighty and precious
are the metallic and mone-
tary treasures of Ki Tisa, they
can outshine and overpower
its scents: The hidden riches
and most potent messages of
the parshah are found not in
its wealth of words concern-
ing coins and metal, but in
its brief prescription about
perfumery.
The smells of ancient Israel and
its Sanctuary are noted throughout
Scripture and did not go undetected by
our rabbis. The fetor from the conflagra-
tion of sacrificial flesh on the bronze
altar was so pungent that the Mishnah
felt compelled to assure us that no
woman ever miscarried from its fumes
(Avot 5:4). The aromatic incense of the
golden altar, which functioned first
and foremost as a sacred air-freshener,
sweetened any malodor in the Temple.
This blend of balm and spices (listed
in Exodus 31:34) gives forth its aroma
when burned, or as they say in Latin,
per fume. Similarly, our Torah portion
prescribes the precise components of the
aromatic oil that was used to anoint the
furnishings of the Tabernacle and serve
as cologne for the kohanim.
A key to the meaning of both the
incense and the fragrant oil lies in the
severe censure and punishment pre-
scribed for any endeavor to imitate its
aroma. No less a consequence than
karet — the ultimate divine penalty — is
provided for anyone attempting a knock-
off of the priestly product. The secret of
processing the sacred spices into incense
and anointing oil (the ingredients for
each number five) was channeled sub
rosa from one generation to the next
through to the time of the Second
Temple.
Just as the Tabernacle's rituals and
furniture were unique and confined to
God's home, so too His servants, the

Customers sell their items to us, we price them and sell them.
We are very selective about what we buy.

priests, wore a fragrance that could not
be imbibed outside the holy abode. The
sacred is that which is totally separate
and special, belonging only to God
Himself.
Beyond protecting the sanctity of the
Sanctuary, its sui generis bouquet gave
both pilgrim and priest the
sense that the Temple itself
was extraordinary. Just as
God chose only one place on
Earth as His exclusive resi-
dence, its fragrance could be
experienced only there.
Such a singular sensation
creates a unique memory,
and nothing can recall the
past better than smell. The
capacity of our nose, over
all other organs of sense, to
evoke memory is found in the story of
Isaac. Unable to see, and untrusting of
touch and hearing, when Isaac inhales
the woodsy odor of his son's clothing he
is reminded of the smell of the field and
inspired to bless his child.
The unparalleled ability of the olfacto-
ry nerve to ignite the memory is rooted
in human biology, but it is also Divine.
When He smelled the aromatic smoke
emanating from Noah's altar, God vowed
that He would remember never again
to destroy the world. The aromas of the
Tabernacle and its altars therefore had
the power to make our ancestors and
God redolent of each other.
We can imagine the Israelites declar-
ing (Pslams 19:9-10), "The ways of the
Lord are righteous; they are more pre-
cious than gold:' And we can hear God
responding to His people (Song of Songs
4:10), "How much more pleasing is your
love than wine, and the fragrance of
your perfume more than any spice:'

❑

Rabbi Eric Grossman is head of school at
Frankel Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield.

Conversations
• Are there particular smells that
evoke for you strong Jewish or
personal memories?
• Religions other than Judaism
continue to use incense during
worship. Do you feel this practice
would enhance religious services
for you?

We're looking for name brands from newborn to size 16.
By "recycling" your children's clothes and toys you can

free up space in their closet, while adding a few dollars to your wallet
or find more high fashion bargains for your growing children.

Safety is a priority as every toy and baby item is checked for recalls before buying.
You'll find name brands such as Abercrombie, North Face, Justice, Limited Too,
Gap, Hollister, Children's Place, Columbia, Eddie Bauer and dozens more.
Our store is very clean and organized, this helps our customers enjoy their
shopping experience. We purchase toys, strollers, high chairs as well as
most other needs for your baby.

1111:-.10,

Regular store hours are Monday through Friday
from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
and Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m.

•

•

• .

I

"3 ■ ,

'11112.11P.

of I V. 34 %, „_

-

:

•

-- •

oFee-TaiNcli.
Year Round Swim Lessons!

4 months - 12 years of age
4:1 student-to-teacher ratio

30-minute weekly lessons

tbs o winter Our I pools are 90 degrees!
blues in our
.
degree poof111,11

Our lessons help
develop motor skills,
brain development and
comfort in the water.

Locations in:

ocation times & details
can be found on our website:

goldfishswimschool.com

Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids,
Lansing, Cleveland, Chicago,
and Indianapolis.
Opening in March:
Macomb, MI & Columbus, OH

f

Coming soon:

Northern VA & Pittsburgh, PA

JN

February 13 • 2014

33

