February 23, 2024 · י"ד אדר א' תשפ״ד
Parashat Tetzaveh · פרשת תצוה
A PEEK AT THE PARSHA The parsha opens with the commandment to light the Menorah with pure olive oil. Each day Aharon would prepare the wicks and light the Menorah so there would always be light in the Mishkan. Aharon and his four sons - Nadav, Avihu, Elazar and Itamar - were chosen to be the Kohanim. While the Kohanim were serving in the Mishkan (and eventually the Beit Hamikdash) they wore four articles of clothing. 1. Ketonet: a full length shirt (tunic) 2. Michnasayim: short pants 3. Mitznefet: hat 4. Avnet - long belt. The Kohen Gadol wore those four garments and an additional four. 1. Efod: an apron. On top of the
ONE BIG IDEA From the time of Moshe’s birth, this is the only Parsha missing Moshe’s name. One reason is because when Hashem first appeared to Moshe at the burning bush, Moshe incorrectly declined to be the leader and recommended Aharon instead. Since Parshat Tetzaveh discusses the clothing of the Kohanim, this was the Parsha chosen not to have Moshe’s name. Humility is a very important character trait, but it should never hold you back from doing even greater things.
Efod were the Avnei Shoham: two stones which had the names of the twelve shvatim (tribes of Bnei Yisrael) engraved on them. One stone had six names and the other stone had the other six names. 2. Choshen: a breastplate with twelve stones which had the names of the twelve shvatim engraved on them. Each of the twelve stones was a different color. 3. Me’il: a long cloak. On the bottom of the Me’il there were bells and decorative pomegranates so that everyone could hear when the Kohen Gadol was walking. 4. Tzitz: a golden plate worn on the forehead with the words Kodesh L’Hashem (holy for Hashem). Our Parsha ends with a description of the Mizbayach Hazahav (golden altar): the inner Mizbayach which was used to burn the Ketoret, the daily incense sacrifice. This sacrifice, as well as the daily preparation for the lighting of the Menorah, could only be performed by the Kohen Gadol. The special mixture of incense could only be used for this purpose.
TIMES - זמנים Candle-lighting: 5:21pm Havdalah: 6:18pm allah: 5:25pm