This week, we study Perashath Teṣawéh, which speaks to us about the ner tamid, the bigdé haqodesh, and the preparation of the Kohanim. With Heaven’s help, I will share a few interesting points about this perashah.
- The Torah speaks to us about the Urim wa-Tumim. The Urim wa-Tumim was placed beneath the Efod. The Efod bore the names of Bene Yisrael. When they would consult Aḏonay through the Urim wa-Tumim, the letters inscribed on the twelve stones would illuminate. The Kohen HaGadhol knew how to decipher the divine decree, combining the letters to form the message. The linguistic roots of these two words are “light” and “purity.” In our days, there is much halakhic confusion due to our sins and lack of consecration. Though today we do not have the Beth HaMiqdash, nor Kohanim or Lewiyyim serving there, we still have the Urim wa-Tumim—the Torah Shebikhtab and Torah Shebe‘al Peh (Written and Oral). If we adhere to these two, we will be walking in the “pure light” of the Creator.
- In 28:41, we learn something interesting about Aharon HaKohen and his sons. We see that his sons had to dress him, and he had to dress them. The Torah tells us that these garments are for kabodh and tif’ereth (glory and beauty). This teaches us an important lesson: glory, beauty, and honor are things attributed by others and not by ourselves. Pirqe Aboth teaches us: “Who is honored? One who honors others.” Thus, this teaches us to be humble.
- In 29:46, we learn that all these miṣwoth are for our benefit. We must never forget that we left Miṣrayim. We must struggle against the assimilation of Miṣrayim every single day. What is Miṣrayim? It is a state of spiritual laziness. It is when we do not want to fulfill the dictates of the Torah. It is the place of comfort and complacency. It is also the world of materialism. This is one of the reasons why the Creator took us into the wilderness, where there was nothing. Finally, this is why we recite every morning in Shaḥarith: Az yashir Moshe u-Bene Yisrael…
More than 2,300 years ago, a descendant of Amaleq (shemo we-zikhro yimmaḥ) sought to wipe out the Hebrew people from the face of the earth. We saw how the Eternal, blessed be He, saved the people through two Jews in Persia. Our Sages of blessed memory teach: “Before the plague, Heaven prepares the cure.” It is evident that the Creator, blessed be He, hid the light in the darkness so that it would later illuminate the world. Hadassah (Ester) had to conceal her true identity so that she could later serve as the instrument to save Yisrael. Today, Amaleq seeks to destroy our people through the Iranian ruler. But I tell you with certainty that the Eternal already has His salvation prepared for His people in these days.
May we merit to emerge from this exile and present ourselves as priests of Aḏonay, with the Urim wa-Tumim in our minds, to serve as an example to the nations.