T'tzaveh
(February 28, 2015)
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Mark Heutlinger, Administrator |
Parashat T’tzaveh continues this theme of specificity as the Israelites are told to bring “clear oil of beaten olives” for the daily lighting of the lamps inside the Tabernacle, which is performed by the High Priest Aaron and his sons. Clear and beaten are examples of the particularization of God’s commands and appear at the very beginning of the parashah.
LIGHTING THE LAMPS
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Menorah, Fifth Avenue Sanctuary (photo by Laszlo Regos) |
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Ner Tamid (Eternal Light), Beth-El Chapel (photo by Brian Rose) |
The specifics get bloody when God lays out His instructions for the ordination of the High Priest and his sons as priests in purification rituals involving animal sacrifice and lasting seven days. The parashah concludes with instructions on the burning of incense on an altar that is also richly described. This is to be done in tandem with the tending of the lamps. Finally, it is commanded that the altar be purified annually with the “blood of the purgation offering.”
So what is learned? God knows precisely what He wants. He makes it crystal clear. He establishes the specific appearance of ritual objects and garments and also places significant emphasis on how rituals are to be conducted. Attention to detail is at the heart of this parashah. By attending to even the smallest details, an individual finds comfort in the precision of carrying out his or her life’s work. But within that strict orderliness there is also the concept of adornment. The priestly garb is the metaphor. Its exactitude of style is enhanced by the beautiful coloration of the materials themselves.
When we are inside Emanu-El’s sanctuary we should remember that its beauty is a reflection of God’s command to the Israelites. Not only did we build a house for Him to dwell within, we adorned it exquisitely in keeping with our ancient tradition.
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