In the Holy Temple: Garments of Honor and Glory

You light up my life

What exactly were the "Urim and tumim" worn by the kohen?

Pure Gold and Copper

The King’s Horse and Chariot

Leadership Means Making Space

The Secret to Eternal Life

Ever since the dawn of time, people have pursued the goal of eternal life. The ancient Egyptians, for example, mummified their bodies, in the belief that this would grant them continuity from one world to another. Even today, many contribute to various Torah or kindness organizations in order to memorialize their loved ones... On a simple level, the aspiration for eternity stems from a positive place in one's soul: the striving to be like our eternal Creator. If so, when we consider the other levels of G-d's creation, we will realize that we are not very close to reaching this goal...

Honoring the Priesthood in Our Time

Tetzave starts out with two verses discussing the oil for the Menorah (lamp) in the Mishkan. It must be "pure beaten olive oil," and the lamp must burn perpetually in the Tent of Meeting. The commentators ask: What are these verses doing here in the portion dealing with the choosing and preparation of the Priests? Why are they not in the passage of the Menorah?

The Ethic of Holiness

With parshat Tetzaveh, something new enters Judaism: Torat Kohanim, the world and mindset of the Priest.

Is Wearing a Kipa Halachically Required?

The Mystery of the Missing Moshe

The position of Kohen Gadol is arguably the highest in the nation, for he alone could access the Urim V’Tumim & receive Hashem’s verdict for the nation on Yom Kippur.

Preperations

Why does the Torah write in detail about making the oil for the Menorah whilst the main purpose is the flame that is litten?

“Aharon Will Arrange them”

Based on Siach Shaul, p. 280

How does the mitzva of the oil and the lighting end up in the middle of the blueprints of the Mishkan, in between the description of the structure and its holy vessels and that of the glorious holy garments of the kohanim?

The Counterpoint of Leadership

One of the most important Jewish contributions to our understanding of leadership is its early insistence of “the separation of powers”. Neither authority nor power was to be located in a single individual or office. Instead, leadership was divided between different kinds of roles.

How Temple Laws Apply To Modern Israel

Israel National Torah

Using one of the laws of the Temple found in Parshat Tetzave to teach something insightful about the building of the modern State of Israel.

The Similarities Between Tetzaveh and Purim

There seems to be great similarities between this Torah reading and the reading of the book of Esther on Purim. Throughout the entire Torah, we find that the name of our great teacher Moshe (after his birth) is found in each weekly portion, with one lone exception. In Tetzaveh Moshe’s name never appears, even though we are aware that Moshe is the one who wrote this portion of the Torah and taught it to the Jewish people for all eternity. We are aware that Moshe is the hidden author, the director of events behind the scenes.

Holiness & Hiddenness

How Temple Laws Apply To Modern Israel

Beyond the 4 Amot

I this week's Parasha we learn that the laws of the Mishkan are precise. On the other hand, in the process of the construction of the temple, the builders are allowed to derive any benefit they want from the temple.

Dressing to Impress

Brothers: A Drama in Five Acts

Tetzaveh 5779

Tetzaveh 5779