Torah Commentary - Tetzaveh
*Commentary courtesy of Menahem Me-Zahav
Our Sidrah of Tetzaveh, is really unique. In all four books of the Torah (Exodus through Deuteronomy, which are the 2nd through the 5th books of the Torah), does the name of Moses (Moshe) totally dominate all aspects of the Jewish Life. The Name of Moses is mentioned in those four books of the Torah hundreds of times (Over 600). However…
Moses’ name is not mentioned in our Sidrah.
Moses’ name is noticeably absent from one Sidrah – it is today’s Sidrah of Tetzaveh.
Obviously, we cannot expect Moses’ name in The First Book of the Torah (Genesis), as the story of Moses’ birth starts only in The Second Book (Exodus).
We can only expect Moses’ name in four books of the Torah, namely, the 2nd through the 5th Book (Exodus through Deuteronomy).
As stated above: Moses’ name is mentioned in those four books of the Torah over 600 times.
How can this phenomena (of Moses’ name, being absent, from our Sidrah) be explained.
There are a few Midrashim explaining the phenomena. They are as follows:
(a) Moses opted to stay out of the limelight. Moses who is described as “Most Humble Man
on earth” (Numbers 12:3) opted to stay out of the limelight for a certain period of time, while the
Sanctuary was being constructed.
At that time, various tasks of the Kohanim and the Levites in the Sanctuary, where assigned.
Moses then decided, that since the Kohanim and the Levites’ work, is so vital to Jewish life, they
should also receive the full respect that they merited. He chose therefore, to stay for a while in the
background.
(b) The 7th day of the Month of Adar. The date of Moses’ birth and departure, the 7th day of the
month of Adar, always falls at a time close to Shabbat Tetzaveh. Shabbat Tetzaveh pays therefore
respect to the memory of the Greatest ‘Man of God’ ever to live.
This sounds well for a Regular Year with one Month of Adar. What about a Leap Year with its two
months of Adar (Adar I and Adar II)?
In a Leap Year, Moses’ Day of Departure falls on the 7th day of Adar I.
Moses’ Birth Day, which is believed to fall on the same day in a Regular Year, is observed by some
on the 7th of Adar II.
(c) A crucial event in Moses’ life that shows his great love for the Jewish people.
When Moses was descending Mount Sinai carrying the Two Stone Tablets (That contained the Ten
Commandments, which he just received from God), he was told by God that His People, have just
committed a terrible sin, of worshipping the ‘golden calf’’.
God then told Moses that He (God) will destroy the Jewish people and make him (Moses), the new
“Father of Israel”. Moses begged God, not to destroy His own people, unless He first eradicates
Moses’ own name from the Torah.
God responded that He would not destroy the people of Israel and will also not eradicate
Moses’ name since he, Moses did not commit any sin (Exodus 32:1-35). We find that Moses’
name was still left out of one Sidra of the Torah. It happened to be our Sidra of Tetzaveh.
Eternal Light - Ner Tamid
The Sidrah is named after its 2nd word “Ve’ata Tetzave – and you (Moses) shall order the Israelites to prepare the special oil that will light the Seven Branched Menorah” (Exodus 27:20). The instruction here is to light the Menorah and establish an Eternal Light - Ner Tamid.
A similar Eternal Light, like the one that was lit 3,300 years ago in the Tabernacle, is still present today, in every Synagogue. It hangs in front, or above the Ark, and thus gives the Synagogue, an aura of a Miniature Temple - Mikdash Me’at. In most synagogues the light is always on. It is meant to symbolize the eternity of God’s own light.
The Kohanim
Most of the Sidrah is then dedicated to Aaron and his sons, who were chosen to become the Kohanim. “And you (Moses) shall bring forward your brother Aaron, with his sons, Nadav, Avihu, Eleazar and Ithamar to serve Me (God) as Kohanim” (Exodus 28:1).
The garments of the Kohanim and especially those of the Kohen Gagol (High Priest, Exodus 28:2-43) are described in great detail:
(a) The Ephod - Breast Piece.
(b) The Choshen - Breast Plate mounted onto the Ephod. It encompassed twelve, precious
Stones, each one engraved with a name, of one of the 12 tribes. The Choshen was
named also The Urim Ve’Tumim - The Lights and the Perfections. It was used at
times of national urgency to ask for Devine guidance. For example, Samuel (some 200 years
later) used the Urim Ve’Tumim for help in identifying the person whom He (God) has chosen to
become the first King of Israel. It turned out to be King Saul (I Samuel, 10:20-24).
(c) The Me’eel – Robe.
(d) The Avnet – Tunic
(e) The Mitznefet - Headdress.
(f) Tzitz Ha’zahav - Plate of Gold. Hanging from the Headdress, it covered the entire
forehead. God’s name was inscribed on it, making it the most sacred of the Kohen Gadol’s
attire.
The final outcome of all the efforts – God will Sanctify and Dwell at the Sanctuary
The remainder of the Sidrah describes the ceremonies, to be observed in the ordination of the Kohanim and the consecration of the Sanctuary. Included are the various offerings to be made at that time.
All the work has a reason: “…For, there (at the Sanctuary) I (God) will meet with you (Moses) and there
I (God) will speak with you…And it shall be sanctified by My glory…I will dwell among the Israelites and
I will be their God…And they shall know that I am The Lord their God that brought them out of the land
of Egypt to dwell among them” (Exodus 29:42-46).
Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27, Page 520
The Jewish people were twice forcibly displaced to Babylonia. The first time it was the Exile of King Yehoyachin (598 BCE) - and the second time some 12 years later. It happened at the destruction of the Temple and the entire Kingdom of Judea (586 BCE).
Losing the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people lost not just their freedom, but also the most visible testament, to ever being an independent nation. They felt totally defeated. Sadness, desperation and hopelessness became rampant. The Prophet Ezekiel, who was also exiled from Judea (in the first exile), has a message: Not only will they soon be redeemed from exile, and returned to the land of Israel, but the Holy Temple – the foremost claim to nationhood, will soon be standing back in Jerusalem. Ezekiel, careful not to irritate the Babylonians, disguises his message. In a seemingly innocent manner, he dedicates a series of prophecies to Jerusalem and the Holy Temple (Ezekiel Chapter 40 through Chapter 47, a total of 8 full Chapters). This is the backdrop to our Haftarah.
In Chapter 43, Ezekiel envisions the new Temple rising up on Mount Zion and extending like a city
“Such is the law for the Temple, on top of the mountain, the whole place between its borders shall be Kodesh Kodashim – Holiest of the Holies - That is the Torah of the Sanctuary” (Ezekiel, 43:12).
Ezekiel then carefully describes the Temple and some of its main furnishings. The Kohanim, are given special attention as well. The Kohanim “shall atone and cleanse the altar, for seven days. And from the eighth day on, they will do the peoples’ offerings” (Ezekiel,43:26-27).
The linkage to our Sidrah, is the detailed description of God’s Place of Dwelling. In our Sidrah, God dwells in the modest Sanctuary that was built in the desert. In the Haftarah God promises that He will dwell in the new, soon to be built, (The 2nd) Temple in Jerusalem.
We know today, that Ezekiel’s prophecy, did totally materialize
Ezekiel’s prophecy was delivered, exactly 14 years after the destruction of the Temple, namely in 572 BCE. He was around 45 years of age, at that time. Some 50 years later (Circa 525 BCE), The Second Temple was inaugurated. The Prophet Ezekiel, who was born some 90 years before this event, was not alive any more, to see the newly built (2nd) Temple.
