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Home -> 5784 -> Tetzaveh

שבעת ימים ילבשם הכהן תחתיו מבניו אשר יבוא אל אהל מועד לשרת בקודש

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5784

For a seven-day period, the Kohen who succeeds him from his sons, who shall enter the Ohel Moed to serve in the Sanctuary shall wear them. (29:30)

The son of the Kohen Gadol (if he is worthy) takes precedence over any other Kohen to succeed his father. Two Kohanim actually served in the positions of Kohen Gadol – the regular High Priest – and Kohen Mashuach Milchamah – a Kohen Gadol ordained specifically prior to the nation’s entrance into a war. This latter one was a specially designated Kohen Gadol whose purpose it was to address the nation and give his charge before the battle, encouraging them that Hashem will protect them. The Kohen Mashuach Milchamah is forbidden to marry a widow and may pose questions to…

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Home -> 5784 -> Tetzaveh

ונשא אהרן את שמות בני ישראל בחשן המשפט על לבו

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5784

Aharon shall bear the names of Bnei Yisrael on the Choshen Hamishpat (Breastplate of judgment) on his heart. (28:29)

Aharon HaKohen merited to wear the breastplate on his heart due to the manner in which he accepted Moshe Rabbeinu’s appointment as the leader of the Jewish People. Prior to Moshe’s entrance on the scene, Aharon had been the Navi and leader of the Jewish people. Suddenly, his position transformed from leader to assistant. Not only did Aharon not complain, but the Torah says V’roacha v’somach b’libo, “He will see you and he will rejoice in his heart” (Shemos 4:4). Aharon’s humility was such that he manifested no ego whatsoever when he lost his position to his younger brother. This…

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Home -> 5784 -> Tetzaveh

ויקחו אליך שמן זית זך כתית

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5784

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

Chazal (Midrash Rabbah, Shemos 36:1) quote the pasuk in Yirmiyahu (11:16), Zayis raanan yefei pri to’ar kara Hashem shemecha, “Hashem named you verdant olive tree, fair, with choice fruit” to indicate the comparison of Klal Yisrael to olive oil. Chazal state three characteristics of the Jewish People which mimic the characteristics of olive oil. First, the olive does not give forth its oil until it has been smashed and pressed. Likewise, (some of) the Jewish People return to Hashem through teshuvah, repentance, once they have suffered at the hands of anti-Semites of all creeds, who have persecuted them with all…

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Home -> 5784 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה תצוה את בני ישראל

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5784

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

A name is important, but, for some people, it is sadly all they have. They feel that lineage of any sort will pave the way for their future. While in some instances it might be true, the lineage will not preserve their legacy. This is not meant to demean the value of a name. It can carry cultural, historical or familial significance, which is meaningful, not only to the person, but also to those who revere his lineage and what it represents. Legacy is established, however, by the impact one makes on his surroundings, his friends and his students. One’s…

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Home -> 5783 -> Tetzaveh

ונתת אל חשן המשפט את האורים ואת התמים והיו על לב אהרן

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5783

You shall place the Urim and the Tumim into the Choshen HaMishpat, so that they will be over Aharon’s heart. (28:30)

When Hashem revealed Himself to Moshe Rabbeinu in the burning bush, instructing him to go to Egypt and serve as the medium for redeeming the Jewish People – Moshe did not respond with an outright “no.” Rather, he said, “Send whom You are accustomed to send” – Aharon HaKohen. Moshe feared overshadowing Aharon, his older brother, who had until now been the preeminent leader of the Jewish People. He refused to dethrone him out of his overwhelming sensitivity for his brother’s feelings. It was only after Hashem told Moshe that Aharon was on his way to greet him and V’ra’acha…

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Home -> 5783 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה תדבר אל כל חכמי לב אשר מלאתיו רוח חכמה ועשו את בגדי אהרן לקדשו לכהנו לי

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5783

And you shall speak to every wise-hearted person whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the vestments of Aharon, to sanctify him to minister to Me. (28:3)

The Torah refers to the craftsmen who fashioned the various vessels used in the Mishkan and the priestly vestments which the Kohanim were enjoined to wear when performing the avodah, service, as chachmei lev, wise-hearted people. The pasuk states that Hashem filled these men with chochmah, wisdom. Why was it necessary for these men to be invested with Heavenly wisdom? Ramban explains that the Bigdei Kehunah, priestly vestments, require that its manufacture be lishmah, for its purpose, and it is possible that it even required kavanah, intent, as well. In order that they understand what they are doing, Hashem infused…

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Home -> 5783 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה הקרב אליך את אהרן אחיך

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5783

Now you bring near to yourself Aharon your brother. (28:1)

Chazal (Shemos Rabbah, Tetzaveh 37:4) teach that Moshe Rabbeinu was not overjoyed that Hashem endowed the Kehunah, priesthood, to Aharon and his descendants. It is not that Moshe begrudged Aharon. On the contrary, he was happy that his older brother was granted such an exalted mission. He just wanted to serve Hashem in every possible manner. Hashem assuaged Moshe’s feelings. He said, “I had the Torah, which I gave to you (to give to Klal Yisrael). If not for the Torah, I would have lost My world.” Hashem told Moshe that the Torah was His most precious possession, because of…

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Home -> 5783 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה תצוה את בני ישראל ויקחו אליך שמן זית זך כתית למאור להעלת נר תמיד

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5783

Now you shall command Bnei Yisrael that they shall take for you pure olive oil, pressed, for illumination, to kindle a lamp continually. (27:20)

Two people of similar backgrounds attended the same schools and were mentored by the same rebbeim. Nonetheless, the level of fear of Heaven of one is far stronger and more committed than the other. One is more meticulous concerning his mitzvah observance than the other. How did this happen? In a powerful and enlightening essay, Horav Shlomo Wolbe, zl, sheds light on this disparity. He begins with a simple analogy to a clothing purchase. While most of us purchase our suits off the rack, those who can afford it – and who are fastidious about fit and appearance –custom-tailor their…

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Home -> 5783 -> Tetzaveh

ואתה תצוה את בני ישראל... ואתה הקרב אליך את אהרן אחיך... ונשא אהרן את משפט בני ישראל על לבו

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5783

Now you shall command Bnei Yisrael… bring near to yourself Aharon your brother… and Aharon shall bear the judgment of Bnei Yisrael on his heart. (27:20; 28:1,30)

In his commentary to the beginning of this parshah, the Baal HaTurim notes that this parshah is the only one since Moshe Rabbeinu’s birth in which his name is not mentioned. He attributes this to Moshe’s declaration (following the sin of the Golden Calf) to Hashem, “If You will not forgive the people in their indiscretion, then Micheini na miSifrecha, “Erase me (my name) from Your Book.” The power of Moshe’s demand that his name be removed from the Torah was so strong that, regardless of the stipulation, his words had an indelible impact: his name was omitted from one…

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Home -> 5782 -> Tetzaveh

ונשא אהרן את משפט בני ישראל על לבו לפני ד' תמיד

Sruly Schnair
In Tetzaveh, 5782

Aharon shall bear the judgment of Bnei Yisrael on his heart before Hashem, constantly. (28:30)

The Kohen Gadol’s spiritual eminence notwithstanding, his responsibility to the congregation remains paramount. He may never act in an aloof manner towards the people. They must always be “carried” on his heart, as he empathizes with their agonies and celebrates with each and every one of them during their ecstasies. The Kotzker Rebbe, zl, explains the prohibition for the Kohen Gadol to defile himself spiritually to (even) his seven close relatives (unlike the ordinary Kohen who may do so to his father, mother, wife, brother, sister, son, daughter). The Kohen Gadol must carry all Jews equally on his shoulders. His…

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