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Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Tetzaveh Exodus 27:20-30:10
By Shlomo Riskin
Efrat, Israel - “And you shall make sacred vestments that are
dignified and elegant for Aaron your brother” (Exodus 28:2).
European and American sartorial designers and clothing industrialists
promulgate the slogan, “clothes make the individual”. Judaism, which has
always emphasized the inner personality rather than the external appearances
with the teaching “the Compassionate One desires one’s heart”, might
very well provide a substitute slogan, “clothes fake the individual”.
Nevertheless, Judaism does understand that one’s external garb can very
often influence and even change one’s inner feelings: new and sparkling
clothing, for example, can make almost anyone feel much more optimistic and
perky, whereas old and unkempt garb can either signal or give testimony to a
state of inner depression. For these reasons we are commanded to wear
special garb for Sabbaths and Festivals, modest dress is a mandatory
expression of a modest lifestyle, and the Kohen – priests display their
unique leadership roles also by the uniqueness of their sacred vestments.
Since the Talmud teaches that the very ability of the priest- Kohen to
perform the divine service is dependent upon his wearing the proper priestly
garb – “When the (priestly garb) is upon them, the priesthood is upon
them” (B.T. Zevahim 17B), it seems apparent that the unique priestly
apparel must teach volumes about the nature and quality of the Kohen-
priests’ religious leadership. To this end, I would like to analyze the
precise placement of the names of the tribes of Israel, which appear in two
separate vestments of the High Priest.
“They shall make the ephod (a kind of vest, described by Josephus –
Antiquities 3:7:5- as having sleeves and shoulder straps, with an opening in
the center for the breast plate) out of gold thread, sky blue, dark red and
crimson wool, together with twined linen, in a patterned brocade….Take two
sardmyx (crypto-crystalline quartz with alternating red and white bands)
stones and engrave on them the names of Israels’ sons; there shall be six
names on one stone and the remaining six names on the second stone…Place
the two stones on the two shoulder pieces of the ephod as remembrance stones…Aaron
shall carry their names on his shoulders before G-d as a remembrance”
(Exodus 28:6-12)
Hence Aaron the High Priest carried about with him during his performance of
the Temple service the names of the twelve tribes of his nation, and he
carried them upon his shoulders.
Now we have just seen that there was an open place for the breastplate- the
breastplate of judgement- upon the ephod. The Bible describes this
breastplate in exquisite detail:
“Make a breastplate of Judgement. It shall be a patterned brocade… Set
it with four rows of mounted precious stones (emerald, topaz, sapphire,
etc.)… The stones shall contain the names of the twelve sons of Israel,
one for each of the twelve stones…Make two gold rings for the breastplate,
and attach them to the two upper corners of the ephod…Aaron will carry the
names of Israels’ sons on the breastplate of Judgement over his heart when
he enters the Sanctuary. It shall be a constant remembrance before G-d”
(Exodus 28:15-29)
Once again, Aaron is carrying about the names of the twelve tribes of
Israel, but this time they are on his heart. Somehow this breastplate had
the special capacity to help him in rendering important judicial decisions,
such as whether or not to go to war. Hence the Urim and Tumim- literally
lights and perfection, divinely inspired judgements – were imbedded within
the names of these tribes placed upon his heart (Exodus 28:30).
Why two separate renderings of the names of the tribes, and why was one set
of names on the High Priests’ shoulders and the other over the High Priest’s
heart? And what are those mysterious Urim and Tumim?
I believe that the message at hand is a very profound one. The religious
leaders of Israel- the nation of the Book, the nation of the law, the nation
with a mission to the world - must first and foremost render judicial
decisions for his people, determine national policy, provide religious,
ethical and moral direction. But at the same time, he must be painfully
aware that he has to take responsibility for his decisions; that he must
take responsibility for his nation. Thus he must literally wear- carry and
bear the burden- of every individual member of each of the twelve tribes; he
must carry their names on his shoulders, he must take responsibility for the
welfare and destiny of his people.
The Defense Minister of Israel, Shaul Mofaz, visited the family of Yosef
Goodman z”l last week, son of the owners of the Efrat Pizzeria. Yosef was
a beautiful, strong, idealistic and committed paratrooper who was tragically
killed during a training accident. Mordecai his father asked the Defense
Minister what was the most difficult aspect of his job. “Visiting bereaved
families”, he immediately replied. “I visit every one, because I feel
very personally the responsibility for each loss….”
But the next question must be, what gives the High Priest the ability to
render the difficult judgements he must render? They must be judgements of
the mind, but they must also be judgements of the heart. He must realize
that while he must certainly take into account the law, the traditions, the
societal conditions, the national and world politics, he must also and even
primarily be aware that he is affecting real people, individuals and
families, by the ramifications of his decisions. Hence, the names of the
tribes are on his heart and the decision must be not only of the mind but
also of the heart.
And finally, he must also take into account the will of the people when he
makes decisions which will affect their lives. That’s why the Urim and
Tumim, the light of revelation which are revealed when a proper decision is
rendered, has their source in the names of the tribes, in the decisions of
the population of Israel. As the Talmud teaches us, “Even if the nation of
Israel does not entirely consist of prophets, it does consist of children of
prophets.”
Shabbat Shalom
Shlomo Riskin
Chancellor Ohr Torah Stone
Chief Rabbi - Efrat Israel
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