This week’s parsha spends a great deal of time talking about the garments and appearance for the priests (Kohanim). Much of this refers to what should be done and worn in the tabernacle and then later in the temple. So other than a blueprint of what we need to do when there is another temple what is the lesson we can learn from this for today?
When it comes to being Jewish much of it is internal. But when it comes to Jewish community leadership this week’s parsha tells us that if we are to lead in the Jewish community it can not only be internal. We must “put on” on the outfit of a leader and be out there for all to see. For the Jewish community to be strong our leaders must be willing to publicly put on the responsibility of leadership and publicly commit to the responsibilities and behaviors. By having this outward communal commitment our leaders must act in accordance with our communal, Jewish values. And the lack of the mention of Moses in this parsha underscores that community leadership must be distributed throughout the community and that communal leadership and responsibility must go beyond one person.
By wearing the outfits they were making a visible commitment to their community and Judaism. This is a lesson that we need to remember today. When it comes to leading in our community the Torah reminds us that for us to truly lead and impact our community outside of ourselves we must put our responsibilities and commitments for the all to see that we are acting and accepting our commitment and role to being a leader in the Jewish community.
So while we may not have a tabernacle or temple to consider now we do have a community and a chance to lead with the lessons of this week’s portion in mind. Shabbat Shalom
Parshas Tetzaveh Summary from Torah.org
1st Aliya: The Parsha opens with the commandment to use pure olive oil in lighting the Menorah. Aharon and his four sons were selected to be the Kohanim. The basic garments of a Kohain consisted of a turban, shirt, pants, and belt. The Kohain Gadol wore four additional garments: the Me'ill - a long outer robe; the Ayphod - a quilted vest or bibbed apron; the Choshen - jeweled breastplate; and the Tzitz - engraved, golden, forehead plate. The quilted vest is described in this Aliya along with the two Shoham stones. These were engraved with the names of the 12 Tribes and set on the shoulders of the Kohain Gadol.
2nd Aliya: The cloth settings for the Shoham stones are described along with the jeweled breastplate. The method of fastening the breastplate to the quilted vest is explained. The breastplate was a quilted garment set with 12 stones, each engraved with the name of a Tribe.
3rd Aliya: The long outer robe is described. The hem of this garment was edged with small bells intended to announce the presence of the Kohain Gadol as he walked through the Bais Hamikdash. (From this the Gemara derives that a husband, prior to entering the door of his own home, out of respect for his wife, should announce his arrival by knocking on the door.) The engraved, golden forehead plate and the Kohain Gadol's turban are described, along with the four basic garments worn by all Kohanim. All the garments were hand made of the finest white linen. The special vestments of the Kohain Gadol were woven from a special thread spun from five different colored threads, including a thread made of pure gold.
4th, 5th, & 6th Aliyot: The seven day ceremony consecrating the Kohanim into their priestly service is detailed along with the consecration of the Mizbeach - Altar.
7th Aliya: The last vessel to be described is the inner, golden Altar, used to burn the daily incense offering. This offering, as well as the daily preparation for the lighting of the Menorah, could only be performed by the Kohain Gadol. The special mixture of incense called the Kitores, could only be formulated for this purpose. (The renowned biblical archeologist, Vendell Jones, claims to have unearthed a hidden cache containing 600 kilos of the Kitores, buried before the 1st Bais Hamikdash was destroyed.)
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Eliyahoo William Dwek:
ReplyDelete1. The Dweks from Aleppo, Syria, are the only family of the true Cohanim.
We are the only true descendants of Aharon HaCohen, the Cohen HaGadol.
And, we are the only true descendants of Pinhas ben Elazar ben Aharon HaCohen.
It was the great act of Pinhas, who stopped the plague in Am Yisrael, when he struck the spear into Cozbi and Zimri. 24,000 died in a plague from the sins of idolatry and immorality with the Midianite women.
2. Anyone who has taken on the surname, ‘Cohen’/’Kohen’ is clearly identifiable as a fraud, a liar and an imposter of the true Cohanim.
This goes right back to his original ancestor who LIED, and said he was a Cohen when he was not.
Anyone called, ‘Mr. Cohen’ or ‘Rabbi Cohen’ is definitely NOT a Cohen. Someone who calls himself, ‘Mr. Cohen’ or ‘Rabbi Cohen’ is effectively calling himself, ‘Mr. Torah!’
Eliyahoo William Dwek:
ReplyDelete3. The Kohanim are part of the Torah – but they are not called, ‘Mr. Torah.’
It is preposterous for a man to call himself, ‘Mr. Torah!’
If someone makes you a cup of coffee, or sells some bread to you, will you say, ‘Thank you Mr. CoffeeMaker!’ or, ‘Thank you Mr. Baker?!’
4. The coffeemaker and the baker have a Family Name.
Similarly with the true Cohanim.
And that family name is, ‘DWEK.’