This
past Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday. Frankly I think our daughters were more
excited for the halftime show with Bruno Mars as opposed to the game. After
about ten minutes, our son grew bored (as did most of the rest of the viewing
public) and he waited eagerly for the halftime show as well. Whenever my
children sit with me and watch a sporting event, I am asked to identify each
team by the color of their respective jersey. This game was somewhat different.
Since they watched some of the pregame, they quickly learned about the teams
and their corresponding jerseys. So instead of being asked which team was
which; our daughters displayed some maturity. Each one picked a team to cheer. No, they did not choose the team because they
were familiar with players or coaches. Nor they did not pick a team because
they knew that Denver had the best offense and Seattle had the best defense. Nor
did they pick a team because they had some emotional attachment to Denver or
Seattle. As mature as they may be, my daughters reminded me, that at the end of
the day, they are two sweet girls who know very little about football and care
even less about football. They only thing they knew and cared about were the colors
and patterns of the teams’ uniforms. They knew if they liked the orange or green.
This week’s parshah, Teztzaveh, is
about the clothing, the external beauty and magnificence of the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest.
This week’s Parsha is all about dress codes, and looking appropriate. God
explains to Moshe that both Aaron and his sons must go through a seven-day
consecration ceremony. This ceremony consists of the priests wearing Bigdei
Kahuna (Priestly clothes), and offering a sheep sacrifice every morning and
afternoon. Besides this, a meal offering (grains) and a libation offering
(wine) must accompany the sheep sacrifices. Keep in mind that the slaughtering
of animals and then burning of these sacrifices will definitely cause a stench.
Since air freshener in aerosol cans did not yet exist, God reminds Moshe that
another altar must be built. This altar is for incense, which is to be burned
all day and every day during this seven- day period.
It seems kind of odd. Imagine
getting all dressed up in a beautiful Chanel, or Armani suit in order to do
lawn work, slaughter animals, or build a fire? The clothing doesn’t seem to be
appropriate for the activity. It would appear that the Kohen Gadol might be a
bit overdressed. Imagine the cleaning bills? So, why does God tell Moshe V’Asitah Vigdei Kodesh L’Aharon Achichah
l’Chavod U’letifaret- and you shall
make vestments of sanctity for Aaron your brother for glory and splendor.
(Ex 28:2). The Parsha spends a lot of time describing gowns, turbans
breastplates, forehead plates and tunics. Clearly the Torah considers these
garments as sacred. Only the Priest can wear these garments, and only at the
time of making sacrifices. These were very expensive glorious looking clothes
to be used for sacrificing animals, sprinkling blood, and burning the
sacrifice. The Kohen worked in the Mishkan, the place where God would dwell.
Everything associated with the Mishkan must reflect the fact that God dwells there.
Like a king’s palace reflects royalty, those who serve in the king’s court
would also dress appropriately no matter the type of person. The Sefer
HaChinuch explains that the magnificence and beauty also served to inspire awe
in the hearts of all who came, and as a result, they were drawn closer to God.
Anything that looked less than “beautiful” would be out of place. This explains
why the Priest did not have a cleaning bill. Once the clothes became soiled
they were replace by new garments.
Is Parsha Tetzaveh really teaching
us that clothes make the man? We learn
that all this magnificence and beauty is in the context of the Priest serving
God. We learn that all this magnificence and beauty is in the context of the
Priest performing sacrifices to God, on behalf of themselves and the community.
A relationship with God, who dwells among us, is based upon the creation of
Zman Kodesh (holy Time) and Makom Kodesh (holy space). The holy place was the
Mishkan, the Tabernacle and later the Bet HaMikdash, The Holy Temple. Following
the destruction of the Temple, the Bet Midrash, (House of Learning), and Shul,
(Synagogue), and even our own homes have become Holy Places. The holy time is
Shabbat, the three times a day when we pray, when we study Torah, when we light candles, and
when we celebrate Holidays, or even the private moments between husbands and
wives. Beauty and magnificence only serve to enhance this holy time and holy
space. Beauty for its own sake, like cheering on a team because of the colors
and patterns, is a rather empty and fleeting experience. Rather, the more time
and energy we invest, the more we learn and celebrate those moments and in that
space, the more meaningful the sacred time and space becomes.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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