"Bring near to yourself your brother!"(Exodus 28:1) Adar I 10, 5782/February 11, 2022 "And you bring near to yourself your brother Aharon," (Exodus 28:1) are perhaps the most beautiful words spoken in all of Torah! Bring near to yourself your brother! Are we not all brothers and sisters, all of us the children of Adam? And yet, since the beginning of time, or more precisely, since the beginning of brother-dom, brothers have been adversaries of one another, making distances and building walls, separating from one another. Cain could not live with Abel. Yishmael could not suffer Yitzchak. Yaakov deceived Esau and Esau sought to kill Yaakov. And, of course, Yosef’s brothers sold him into slavery only after backing down from their original plan to kill him. Clearly this is not what G-d had in mind for His children. G-d wanted peace and harmony between brothers, yet it took all of twenty-three generations of man for G-d, working behind the scenes, to set the stage and create the moment when Yosef's brothers would confess their crime and Yosef would grant them forgiveness, effectively giving brotherhood a second chance at succeeding. "And Yehudah drew near" to Yosef, (Genesis 44:18) initiating the process of reconciliation that eventually led to a group embrace and a new beginning. It was fraternal love and concern which enabled Israel to escape from slavery as we pick up the story again in Exodus. Miriam's intervention in her infant brother's life enabled him to be nursed by his own mother and through his mother's milk gain an identity and attachment to his own people, an identity and attachment that grew stronger so that one day he stepped out of the palace of his Egyptian foster parents seeking out his true brothers, and immediately interceded on their behalf. Some forty years later G-d, growing increasingly frustrated with Moshe's reluctance to take up his prophetic mission would say "Is there not Aharon your brother, the Levite? I know that he will surely speak, and behold, he is coming forth toward you, and when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart." (Exodus 4:14) If G-d couldn't convince Moshe by performing miracles, he certainly could appeal to Moshe's passion for brotherhood. And indeed, Aharon came to meet Moshe at "the mountain of G-d," and not being afflicted with jealousy toward his younger brother who received the calling from G-d, kissed Moshe upon seeing him. It is no coincidence that these two brothers, working together, would redeem Israel from slavery, as it was brothers fighting with one another which led Israel into bondage in the first place. G-d cannot redeem man if man is in constant strife with his brother. Just as in Yoseph's rapprochement with his brothers, G-d, hearing Israel's cries, could only set the stage for brothers to bond together as one, and only then could G-d give them the tools to extricate Israel from Egypt. In this week's Torah reading, Tetzaveh, after instructing Moshe to draw near his brother Aharon, he tells him "You shall make holy garments for your brother Aharon, for honor and glory." (ibid 28:2) Just three generations earlier brothers were fighting over a beautiful tunic bestowed by a father upon his son, arousing jealousy and deadly enmity, and now G-d is giving not just Moshe, but mankind, a new commandment: dress your brother in holiness! Bestow upon him honor and glory! Cast aside your jealousy and replace it with trust. Aharon was being inaugurated into the priesthood and as Kohen Gadol, (High Priest), he would assume of the role of brother to his people. He would meet them at the mountain of G-d and kiss them on the cheek in his performance of his priestly duties within the Tabernacle on their behalf. Through his garments of honor and glory he would channel G-d's love and forgiveness to each and every one of his brothers and sisters, effectively clothing them with honor and glory. Aharon, and all the High Priests which followed in his stead, bore upon his heart the names of each of the twelve sons of Israel, the fathers of the nation, every day of his life, engraved upon the twelve precious stones of his Choshen (Breastplate). These names, and every name of every man, woman and child of his generation would be upon Aharon's heart as he stood before HaShem in the Holy Temple, for G-d to witness and take sublime pleasure in the brotherly display. It was not just the Kohen Gadol, but the entire family of Israel which stood before HaShem. Upon his forehead, the seat of his intellect, Aharon wore the Tzitz, the crown of pure gold, upon which was engraved, "Holy to HaShem." With the love of his brothers filling his heart, Aharon earned the right to focus his thoughts upon our common Father. Aharon wasn't chosen for the task of Kohen Gadol because he was a better person than others, but because he embodied the qualities of brotherly love. He could properly represent his brothers and sisters before G-d precisely because he was one of them, not greater, not lesser, but equal. Fittingly, we only become equal to our brother when we draw him near and bless him with honor and glory. By honoring one another we allow ourselves to be honored. By glorifying our brother, we ourselves attain glory. G-d is pained by brotherly strife and His presence cannot dwell in a world of fraternal rivalry. The sanctuary that G-d called upon Israel to build for Him is not merely a place for G-d's presence to dwell, but is also a place for man's presence to flourish, and man's presence flourishes when man is united as brothers, acting in unison on one another's behalf. We can only welcome G-d into our world when we learn to live with one another in peace and harmony. The Hebrew word kohen means to serve, and we can only serve HaShem when we, like Aharon, place our brethren upon our hearts, always, as we stand before G-d. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain asked of G-d. (Genesis 4:9) Yes, we are our brothers' keepers. We must draw each other near and honor one another. This is how we serve HaShem. |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven focuses on the commandment to draw near your brother, because G-d loves His children to love one another, and the beauty of linking arms & creating a sacred space for HaShem! As G-d Continues to reveal to Moshe atop Mount Sinai His dream for a place among His people, it becomes clearer and clearer that the Tabernacle Sanctuary is not about creating a simple physical structure, but about imbuing that structure with love and unity and brotherhood in every detail, so that we can stand before G-d as one and let our souls shine for G-d and for one another. |
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Great detail is given to the garments of the High Priest Aharon in parashat Tetzaveh. Each of the eight unique items of apparel that he wore bore special significance and possessed special powers of atonement. Most fascinating of his garments was the Choshen Mishpat - the Breastplate, and tucked within it, the Urim and Tummim. What were the Urim and Tummim and what special power did they possess? Do we today have access to the Urim and Tummim? Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20 - 30:1)
Parashat Tetzaveh is read on Shabbat:
Adar I 11, 5782/February 12, 2022 |
Haftarah For Shabbat Parashat Tetzaveh Ezekiel 43:10-27: "Now you, O mortal, describe the Temple to the House of Israel, and let them measure its design. But let them be ashamed of their iniquities..." |
The Tzitz (Crown) Of The Kohen Gadol "And you shall make a crown of pure gold, and engrave on it in the manner of a signet ring: 'Holy to HaShem.'" (Ex. 28: 36) The crown was a thin plate constructed of one piece of pure, solid gold. Unlike the crown worn by royalty on top of the head, this is worn across the forehead and extends from ear to ear. |
Garments Of The Kohen Gadol Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder and head of the Temple Institute gives a quick teaching about the priestly garments. |
73 Years Ago Today 73 years ago, on February 10, 1949 (11 Shevat 5709), the Provisional Council of the State Israel adopted the Menorah as the official symbol of the newly reestablished state of Israel. |
Last Week's New Moon Of Adar I It was one week ago that we celebrated the new month of Adar I, but only today has the Israel New Moon Society shared this beautiful photo of the new moon. |
Metaphysics Of The Ark Of The Covenant
In parashat Terumah Moshe receives detailed instructions for making the Ark of the Covenant. At the end of the instructions HaShem tells Moshe, “And you shall place the ark cover on the ark from above, and into the ark you shall place the testimony, which I will give you. I will arrange My meetings with you there, and I will speak with you from atop the ark cover from between the two cherubim that are upon the Ark of the Testimony..." |
A Golden Bell From The High Priest's Hem A Voice Message from the Holy Temple. In 2011 archaeologists in the City of David uncovered a golden bell with a buttonhole. Archeologists Eli Shukrun and Ronny Reich announced, "It appears the bell was sewn on the garment of a man of high standing in Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period (first century C.E.)." Could this bell have fallen from the hem of the High Priest's blue tunic? |
The Bells & Pomegranates Of The Robe Of The Kohen Gadol From this week's parashat Tetzaveh: "And you shall make the robe of the ephod completely of blue wool. Its opening at the top shall be turned inward; its opening shall have a border around it, the work of a weaver. It shall have [an opening] like the opening of a coat of armor; it shall not be torn..." |
Seven Pillars Of The Holy Temple Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder and head of the Temple Institute, enumerates the seven pillars, or objectives of establishing a Holy Temple. |
The Breastplate Of The Kohen Gadol "And you shall set it with four rows of mounted stones; the first row: a ruby, an emerald, and a topaz. The second row: a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a quartz crystal. The third row: a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. The fourth row: a chrysolite, an onyx, and an opal. These stones shall be placed in gold settings..." |
The Ephod Of The Kohen Gadol Learn more about the Priestly Garments! |
The Temple Menorah: Where Did It Go? Where Is It Now? The immediate fate of the golden menorah that stood in the Holy Temple is well known. Unlike the Ark of the Covenant, which mysteriously disappeared from the first Holy Temple built by King Solomon, into the fog of history, as well as from the pages of Jewish Scripture, we have to this day concrete evidence of where the Temple menorah was taken following the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. |
The Garments Of The Kohen Gadol According To Maimonides The two great sages, Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105) and Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 1138-1204) had a different understanding of how the garments of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) appeared. |
The Garments Of The Kohen Gadol According To Rashi The two great sages, Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105) and Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 1138-1204) had a different understanding of how the garments of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) appeared. |
"You Shall Make Holy Garments For Your Brother Aharon, For Honor And Glory." (Exodus 28:2) The Kohen Gadol was clad with garments of kavod and tiferet, often translated as "honor and glory," or "honor and splendor." The blues and purples which made up different elements of the Kohen Gadol's garments are the colors of royalty, and in ancient times these colors were almost exclusively the domain of kings and queens, and not your average rank and file citizen. |
The 8 Garments Of The Kohen Gadol
The Kohen Gadol (High Priest) wore eight distinct garments: 1 Tzitz – Crown, 2 Mitznefet - Turban' 3 Ephod - Vest , 4 Choshen Mishpat - Breastplate, 5 Me'il Techelet - Blue Robe, 6 Ketonet Tashbetz - White Linen Tunic , 7 Avnet - belt (sash), 8 Michnasayim - Pants. Each of the eight garments that the Kohen Gadol wore possessed the power to atone on Israel's behalf for different sins, depending, of course, on the sincerity of Israel's repentance, and the pure intention of the Kohen Gadol. |
This Week's Torah Reading Tetzaveh: The Priestly Garments! This week we read: "And you bring near to yourself your brother Aharon, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel to serve Me [as kohanim]: Aharon, Nadav, and Avihu, Eleazar, and Itamar, Aharon's sons. You shall make holy garments for your brother Aharon, for honor and glory." (Exodus 28:1-2) |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount!
Over 750 Jews ascneded the Temple Mount this past week in purity. Showing G-d and the world that we care about His house, as we all get ready to build it anew! Shavua tov - have a good week! |
Red Heifer Update March 1 2021 Raising a perfect red heifer, fit and kosher to be used for the Torah required ashes of the red heifer necessary for achieving the highest level of ritual purity is a challenge! Even a few non-red hairs disqualifies a red heifer candidate. But the Temple Institute is determined to produce the first red heifer ashes in over 2000 years. This update of the status of our current red heifer candidates was timed to coincide with Shabbat Parashat Para - the next to last Shabbat of the month of Adar on which we read Numbers, chapter 19, which details the laws of the red heifer. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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