This week’s Torah portion discusses the law of  “removing the ashes” from the mizbeach/altar.  A kohen (priest) would remove a scoopful of ashes from the altar every morning.

The priests would wear their holy vestments while performing this service.  They would also compete to do the job.  The mishna (Yoma 2:2) describes how the priests would run up the ramp leading to the Altar to be the first one these and win the right.  Once, however, a priest pushed his fellow kohen off the ramp and broke his foot.  As a result, the Rabbi institued a lottery system; whoever won the lottery would receive the honor. 

This “removing the ashes” seems to be a rather menial, mundane task; yet the kohanim fought to perform it.  Why?  Shouldn’t they have fought for the more glamorous jobs?

The priest’s enthusiasm for this job highlights a fundamental concept: When one performs “G-d’s work”, all jobs are important, whether it is seemingly glamorous or mundane.  This task was a simple, effortless job, but when it is done for the service of the Creator, it is equally important as harder jobs that are more complex.

A person working in a typical factory job feels he’s just a cheap laborer and wishes he could move up the corporate ladder.   While he may get the opportunity someday, he can appreciate today that he is helping humanity by performing his job, thus selling products.  He is also providing means of sustenance for himself and family, enabling them to live and achieve their mission in life.  When one keeps his in mind, he realizes he is performing a mission: The creator’s work to provide for His subjects.

A housewife may feel that her domestic responsibilities (aside from possible work – related pressures) are mundane and lacking fulfillment.  The endless, repetitive cycle of laundry.  Cleaning dishes, cleaning the home, preparing meals, feeding children, diapering them and getting up for them at all hours of the night are tiring and arduous.  Yet if one feels she’s doing all this to provide a safe, clean and nurturing environment for herself and her family she’s performing “G-d’s work”, for she's enabling her offspring to grow up as upstanding citizens.

The pre-Passover season tends to get hectic with all the cleaning cooking and buying that one undertakes in preparation for the holiday.  When we realize we are doing it because the Creator commanded us, it is no longer drudgery – it is G-d’s work.  It’s taking a physical act and transforming it to something spiritual.  This is the essence, as evidenced by the kohanim in this week’s Parsha, of our relationship with the creator: to raise the mundane aspects of our lives to something meaningful and spiritual.