YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Tetzave
Aharon the priest, and the high priests of later generations, placed the breastplate over his heart. The heart finds special emphasis in many verses:
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goes in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD; and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
Aaron wears the names of Israel, the Urim and the Thummim, and shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel on his heart. What's the special emphasis and connection between the Hoshen and the heart and what are those three things that Aaron has upon his heart?
The Pele Yoetz writes that all of Judaism and serving God depends on the heart. Rabbi Elazar ben Arach teaches a proper lifestyle is identified with a good heart. The heart is the center of the human body and therefore represents something main and central, but it also represents three other things: life, desire and a special wisdom. When we say that someone's heart beats, we mean he has life. Desires or feelings are attributed to the heart and when we say that someone has a special intelligence, wisdom beyond ordinary logic, we say his heart is wise. In other words, the heart represents the integration of logic detached from life and life disconnected from logic, and the whole result gives more than the sum of the parts.
Since the heart contains the different sides of life, we can say that the essence of life depends on it. This is another reason that the heart is central, everything comes from it. Choosing a way of life with a "good heart" doesn't only change a certain aspect of life, but the whole life. In a similar way, placing something against the heart shows the centrality of the object or a similarity with the heart.
Laying the breastplate over the heart is mentioned in three contexts: the names of Israel, the oracle and the courts.
1. In the same way that each of the twelve tribes of Israel is different and unique, each person has his own character. Each tribe has a special way to serve God, but despite various desires, each has the same basic desire - to serve God. Putting the tribes' names on different stones put on one garment upon the heart unites all desires to the same lofty yet deep desire.
2. The oracle where the holy name was inserted between the folds of the breastplate. This name revived the garment, you could talk through it with God and receive an answer through the miraculous shining of the stones. The breastplate also shows that the source of Israel's life depends on God and also establishes a connection to the source of life!
3. Israel's law is different from that of the other nations. Our laws are not just human laws or arbitrary laws, but the laws of God that fit exactly roughest nature. The Sanhedrin court is also different from other courts. The Gemara in Tractate Berakhot (6) says that God is with three judgments sitting in court. The verdict stems not only from logic but also from supernatural wisdom, the wisdom of heart. The Breastplate laid on the heart shows the link between Jewish law and Divine assistance.
We cannot end without quoting from the Mishnah in Avot (1, 18) "Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said, on three things the world stands, on the law, on truth and on peace."
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
