YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Tetzave
When we judge – or better, misjudge – others by the color of their kipa, the length of their coat, the type of shirt they wear, etc, we literally lose sight of who is standing in front of us. Because it is actually what we cannot see that really matters most to Hashem.
And yet the Torah certainly does spend a great deal of time talking about clothes, particularly here in Tetzave. So let’s suggest an approach that helps us to better understand why.
Chazal ask, "What is most important ‘one-liner’ in the Torah;" the one most crucial maxim a person should live by?
Three answers are given: Rabbi Akiva says, "Love your friend as you do yourself." Rav Shimon ben Pazi says: "You shall offer one sheep in the morning, and a second sheep in the afternoon." And Ben Azzai says: "This is the book of the generations of Man; on the day that Hashem created Man, He made him in His likeness."
Rav Yochanan Zweig explains the deeper message here: A person needs to develop 3 basic relationships during his lifetime. One is between himself & others, as stated by Rabbi Akiva. Another is that between himself & his creator, as indicated by Rav Shimon, who stresses the need to "offer" oneself to G-d, in practice or in prayer. The third component is the relationship we develop with ourselves, the sense of self-esteem that Ben Azzai points out, reminding ourselves that we are prize creations of Hashem, filled with an amazing potential for greatness.
I suggest that it all starts with this third imperative, comings to grips with our own intrinsic value. If we respect ourselves, then we can also respect others, & we can also approach G-d with confidence & true devotion. When I sense my own holiness, I behave perforce in a G-dly fashion.
Which brings us back to the subject of fashion. The real purpose of clothes is not to impress others, but to impress & remind ourselves who we are: Modest, discreet, faithful, Mitzva-observing soldiers in the service of the Almighty. Our Jewish uniform serves primarily to define us TO US.
And that is a kind of "clothes-mindedness" that truly "suits" us.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
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.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
