|
Torah Portion -
Tetzaveh
|
|
Written by d fine
|
|
One of the clothes of the kohen gadol mentioned in our sedra is the me’il (28:4). The gemarra (Erchin 16a) tells us that the me’il atones for lashon hara, for ‘HaShem declared ‘let the thing which emits noise (referring to the me’il, which had bells on it) come and atone for an action of noise (referring to the speech of lashon hara).’’ The Chofetz Chaim explains this via the fact that the me’il was the colour techeiles. As the gemarra (Menachos 43b) highlights, the colour techeiles is supposed to remind us of the sea, which, in turn reflects the sky, which is similar to the colour of the kisei hakavod (‘HaShem’s Throne’). Therefore, the gemarra is telling us that the colour of the me’il reminds us of the kisei hakavod, which will make us shut our mouths and not speak lashon hara, due to the Heavenly judgment that we are wary of. Indeed, frighteningly, the Tanna DeBei Eliyahu writes that lashon hara goes straight up to (be heard by) the kisei hakavod. Moreover, the sound of the me’il is a positive sound - it is for the glory of HaShem (like all the priestly garments), and this using of sound in a positive fashion has the effect of atoning for the negative sounds made when one speaks lashon hara.
|
|
|
Torah Portion -
Tetzaveh
|
|
Written by d fine
|
|
The first words in our sedra are instructions from HaShem to Moshe ‘and you, command Bnei Yisrael…’ But Moshe has been conveying instructions regarding the Mishkan construction thus far anyway - so why does HaShem need to repeat ‘you, command the Bnei Yisrael?’ The Rashbam writes that this portion is dealing with the making of the oil for the ner tamid - which is an instruction for each generation to bring the ingredients, whereas previous instructions to the Bnei Yisrael were one-off instructions vis-à-vis the structure of the Mishkan. That is why these instructions are different and deserve their own separate introduction/calling. Others stress the word ‘you’ to mean that Moshe must personally instruct the Bnei Yisrael here, as opposed to instructing the craftsmen only (Sforno).
|
|
Torah Portion -
Tetzaveh
|
|
Written by d fine
|
|
The Kuzari asks what the difference between the Mishkan and the egel haza’hav is; both were (golden) structures which were intended to have the effect of bringing HaShem’s Presence within the people - yet one was the structure which housed HaShem’s Presence and the other was the greatest sin in history. Where does the difference between the two lie? The Kuzari answers that the only difference is that HaShem commanded us to make the Mishkan, but not the egel.
The depth of this answer is via something the Beis HaLevi points out in Ki Sissa. He says that the Mishkan was deserved of HaShem’s Shechinah because HaShem’s commands were followed in its construction. Whilst since HaShem did not command the egel, there are no positive spiritual effects that result from its
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Torah Portion -
Tetzaveh
|
|
Written by Daniel Sandground
|
|
Parashas Tetzaveh – Clothed in Hidden Lessons
Last week's sedra dealt exclusively with the building of the Mishkan and it's vessels, this week the theme continues with the building of the temple and gives over the laws regarding the Kohanim, the priests who would administer the running of the Temple. The Parasha starts with the description of their vestments (or clothes to the less literate) and continues through to their inauguration service by means of which they and their offspring would become confirmed for all times as these unique ministers of Hashem. So what does a sedra which is dedicated almost entirely to the Kohanim start off with?... Commandments regarding the pure olive oil to be lit in the Menorah... So why start here? Surely we should
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Torah Portion -
Tetzaveh
|
|
Written by Rafi Jager
|
|
Every Kohen (priest) who served in the temple wore four special garments, including a shirt, pants, belt, and turban, all of which were made of white linen. The Kohen Gadol (High Priest) wore an additional four golden garments, including the mantle, the apron, the breastplate, and the headplate. Attached to the bottom of the mantle were 72 hollow ornaments in the shape of pomegranates alternating with 72 golden bells. The bells tinkled to announce the arrival of the Kohen Gadol to the sanctuary. There are several lessons we can learn from the tinkling of the bells
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 5 |
