Tetsaveh
A Medrash Of Value
Admittedly, I’m no expert. But then again, who says that all the marketing specialists that dictate current fashion and style are any wiser than I. True they are aware of the latest trends, but that which is presently fashionable should not be automatically equated with good taste. “Put your faith in us,” the know-it-all designers declare. “And you could achieve great things. We’ll show you how to dress for success. Who better than us to follow. After all, we are the mayvins.” read more »
The Sanctuary Within
The Torah portions of these last two weeks, (Terumah and Tetzaveh) deal with the command to build a Sanctuary. At first glance, the Temple and its various vessels (menorah, altar, priestly garments etc.) have no relevance to our present situation. What possible contemporary application can there be when we have no Sanctuary and no priestly class? read more »
Holy Money
This week’s Biblical reading describes in painstaking detail the Priestly garmrnts, still it is not the Torah’s first ‘fashion’ statement. Clothing (in its current form) was introduced after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit when, “Their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked.” This represented a drastic change from seven verses earlier when,“They were naked...and they were not ashamed.” What altered their perspective? The Tree of Knowledge! read more »
A Breathing, Walking Temple
Modern technological advances have made old-fashioned handwriting almost obsolete. Letters are typed and e-mails are downloaded. Memos are recorded on a dictaphone or scribbled on a palm-pilot. Halacha however, still requires certain Jewish documents to be hand-written. One example is the divorce document, a Get. So while a Kesubah (marriage document) can be printed for mass marketing, the Get still employs the services of a human scribe. read more »
When the Lights of the Urim are not Enough
Without a doubt, the Urim V’Tumim, was the most mysterious item that made up the priestly garments. Handwritten by Moses and never duplicated, it contained G-d’s Explicit Name. This ‘oracle’ while secreted in the High Priest’s Breastplate functioned as a communicator of Divine messages. Thus the Breastplate (Choshen in Hebrew), served an invaluable role. If the Jewish nation was faced with a critical issue affecting their national welfare, such as going to war, the answer would come straight from Heaven via the Choshen. read more »
