Articles with the tag: tetsaveh

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.
I remember thinking as a child, “If only I had my own Urim V’Tumim, I wouldn’t have to study for any tests.” But of course, the Urim V’Tumim was not used for frivolous matters, only for issues…

Continue reading When the Lights of the Urim Are Not Enough

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.

The Talmud questions the legal status of an engraved divorce and examines two scenarios. The first is a raised stamp that produces an engraved image. The Talmud classifies this as an act of “writing” and such a Get would be valid. 

Regarding the stamp with a sunken image that leaves a raised picture,...

Continue reading A Breathing, Walking Temple

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!

Prior to the sin, the concept of clothing also existed. Indeed, the original and ideal garment was built into Adam, It was the human body that ‘clothed’ the Divine soul. But then, man’s skin was quite different. It was made of nail,  which is why Adam did not physically require…

Continue reading Holy Money

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?

However, since Torah is the word of G-d who is infinite, it is itself infinite. Infinite in time, because it is eternally binding and infinite in meaning, because every verse has innumerable layers of interpretation and significance.

An example of this is the passage in which G-d told Moses to erect a Sanctuary. He said, “They shall make Me a Sanctuary and I will…

Continue reading The Sanctuary Within

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.”

If the truth be told, we don’t need to turn to Paris for discover that “Clothes Make the Man”. All that is required is a careful reading of this week’s Biblical portion to understand the importance of proper…

Continue reading A Medrash of Value