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It must be on Aharon to minister, its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary…and when he leaves. (28:35)

  The bells which were attached to the bottom hem of the Kohen Gadol’s robe obviously created a noise when he walked.  This noise was by design, in order to signal his entry and departure from the Sanctuary.  Menachem Tzion renders this pasuk homiletically.  All too often, when a congregation /community  or school chooses a rabbi / leader, we  hear praises about him. His merits are publicly lauded to impress people and,  in many cases, to justify his selection.  A few years later, when for various reasons he no longer satisfies the whims of the powers that be, rather than…

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You shall make vestments for Aharon your brother, for glory and splendor. (28:2)

The Kohanim, especially the Kohen Gadol, were to wear vestments that reflected the nobility of their station and service.  The commentators offer a number of explanations for the terms “glory” and “splendor,” as well as the reasons for demanding that the Bigdei Kehunah be such garments that are similar to those worn by royalty.  Let it suffice that the Torah demanded that the vestments worn by the Kohanim were to be unique in their beauty, thereby dignifying the Kohanim and Hashem, Whom they served.  Indeed, if a Kohen served in the Bais Hamikdash mechusar begadim, not wearing all of the…

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That they shall take for you pure, pressed olive oil for illumination. (27:20)

The oil that was used for the Menorah was to be pure, untainted by any olive particles or sediment.  The oil that was used for the Menachos, meal-offerings, was derived from crushed, rather than pressed,  olives.  Hence, this oil was not as pure.  The commentators render this disparity homiletically.  Horav Shlomo Sofer, zl, cites the fact that the Menorah and its light are symbolic of the Torah and daas Torah, its perspective.  When dealing with Torah perspective, we must retain the essence of purity.  We make no allowance for alien philosophies.  It must be pure – like the oil for…

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Now you shall command the Bnei Yisrael. (27:20)

Hashem commanded Moshe to have direct personal involvement regarding the next three mitzvos: the preparation of the oil; the designation of the Kohanim; the selection of those wise and talented people who would make the Bigdei Kehunah, Priestly vestments, and build the Mishkan.  Horav Shabsai Yudelevitz, zl, interprets this pasuk homiletically.  He cites an incident in which a student of Rav Yisrael Salanter came to the famous founder of the Mussar movement, stating that he would like to go to Germany to give Mussar, lectures in character refinement and Torah observance, to the people therein the hope that he would…

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