Chasidut zu Schemot 19:6

None of the prophets were satisfied with spreading their greatness to individuals alone. Rather, they tried to raise their entire generation to the messianic telos and the tikkun of the end times, as it says in the midrash above that is was not just individuals but rather all of them [who were prophets]. It says in the Zohar (Acharei Mot 79) about the generation of R. Simon b. Yokhai “Rabbi Yehudah taught, “The generation in which Rabbi Shimon b. Yokhai dwells are all virtuous, all devout, and sin-fearing, and Shekhinah dwells among them, which is not so in other generations...For when R. Shimon uttered the mystery of this verse, the eyes of all the Companions streamed tears , and all the words that he spoke were clear in their eyes...It has been taught: In the days of R. Shimon, a person would say to his fellow, ‘Open your mouth and let your words shine!’ After R. Shimon passed away, they would say, ‘Do not let your mouth make your flesh sin.’²¹⁶Ecclesiastes 5:5. If even the donkey of Rabbi Pinhas ben Yair was illuminated, observed the Torah, was stringent beyond the letter of the law, and apprehended through inspiration that its food was not tithed,²¹⁷See Talmud Hullin 7a-b. we can only imagine the extent of the prophet’s desire to make of Israel “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”²¹⁸Exodus 19:6.

For Israel is called “a kingdom of priests,”⁴²⁵Exodus 19:6. for they cause the sefirah of Malkhut above to rule on all. Israel strengthens not the just its capacity to be revealed in this world, but rather on all the hidden treasures of the king, that is, also those Above—all are ruled through Israel down below. Know, that which is Above—it is all from you.

Exodus 19,6. “and you will be for Me a kingdom of ‎priests.” This statement can best be understood in ‎connection with a statement in the Talmud Moed Katan 16 ‎where the rhetorical question of: “who rules over Me, (G’d) is ‎answered with the word: ‎צדיק‎, “the righteous, the Just.” The ‎Talmud reveals that G’d’s people comprise people of the stature ‎of Royalty, people who are able by their very stature to overturn ‎evil decrees made by G’d in heaven and turn their effect into ‎blessings. [The major function of the priests is to channel ‎blessings to the Jewish people either by their words or by their ‎sacrificial service on behalf of the people. Ed.]. The exact ‎wording in the Talmud is: ‎לי דבר צור ישראל וגו'‏‎, “concerning Me ‎the Rock of Israel said, etc.” The Talmud understands the wordלי ‏‎: ‎there as ‎עלי‎, “over Me,” implying that someone has “power” to ‎overrule Gd. The word ‎עלי‎ implies overturning, superseding Me.” ‎Just as G’d’s function as Patron of the Jewish people is to ‎overturn evil decrees by the gentiles in our favour, so the ‎function of the righteous amongst us is to overturn G’d’s evil ‎decrees aimed at the Jewish people. The power of the righteous ‎does not extend however, to an ability to overturn G’d’s decrees ‎that are favourable to us. In other words, the concept of ‎ממלכת ‏כהנים‎, “a Kingdom of priests,” emphasizes the limitation of that ‎‎“kingdom.”‎