The TWO Factors involved in getting to Carnegie Hall

The beginning of Parshat Acharei Mot describes in detail the intricate Yom Kippur service in the Temple. Part of that service involved two identical goats: one was slaughtered and offered in a normal manner; the other “scape” goat was sent into the wilderness and thrown off a cliff. The Torah states that the Kohen would send the scapegoat out with the “ish iti”.

Rashbam suggests that the word Iti is related to the word “eit”, time or more specifically frequency. The Ish Iti was a person that frequently traveled the wilderness. He knew his way around ad was therefore perfectly suited for the task of leading the goat into the wilderness. 

Rashi quotes the Medrash that the Ish iti was a person designated for this role from before Yom Kippur. The designation is so important that the Talmud (Yoma 66b) states that if the Ish Iti becomes ritually impure, he nonetheless enters the Temple Courtyard to perform his assigned duty.

Perhaps we can combine the two opinions to teach us a lesson that can apply to each of us. Achievement is a combination of preparation and frequent effort. Hashem may give us a certain talent, but it is up to each of us to identify that talent and then cultivate it to our maximum capacity.

            

Each of us must be an Ish Iti, finding our G-d given talents and then cultivating those talents to the best of our abilities. Just as the Talmud in Yoma seems to indicate, no one can replace us, and if we do not cultivate our talents then not only will we be missing out, but the entire world will be lacking as a result.