Shalom Friends;
This week, our Parshat HaShevua, Parshat Tetzaveh is dedicated Lilui Nishmas for the Eightth Yahrtzeit of My Father: Me’ir HaKohen ben Shabtai HaKohen who was niftar on 9 Adar 5777. This vort also dedicated for the safety of the Chayalim and the liberation of all remaining hostages and their return home whole physically, mentally and spiritually.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to subscribe by clicking on my email address below and, hopefully sponsor a Parshat HaShevua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, to subscribe or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
skype: mark.burt3
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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Our Parshat Tetzaveh opens as Torah records:
“Now you shall command the B’nei Yisrael that they shall take for you pure, pressed olive for illumination, to kindle the lamp continually.” (Sefer Shemos, Perek 27, posuk 20 rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash)
The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash now provides commentary (page 464) :
Having completed the commandments regarding the actual construction of the Mishkan, the Torah now…. begins by teaching that the oil for the Menorah must be absolutely pure, without any admixture of a foreign substance or even olive sediment {noun: the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; dregs]. This requirement of absolute purity is a fitting prelude to the selection of Aaron and his sons as Kohanim, for they, too, must remain pure and separate from the rest of the nation, in the sense that they may not permit unauthorized people to take part in the service. (The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash citing Ibn Ezra)
Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, in his sefer “Unlocking the Torah Text” notes an unusual phenomenon regarding our Parshat Tetzaveh which we could not proceed without mentioning (page 239):
For the first and only time [in Torah] since his introduction in the Beginning of Parshat Shemos, Moshe’s name is omitted from the entire Parsha. (Rabbi Goldin referring to Sefer Shemos, Perek 27, posuk 20 – Perek 30, posuk 10)
So without mentioning Moshe by name throughout our Parsha, Hashem continues, as He Commanded in Parshat Terumah regarding the construction of the Mishkan, by commanding the service within beginning with the laws concerning the oil for the Menorah and continuing with the pronouncement of Aaron and his sons as Kohanim and the laws concerning the “Bigdei Kehuna” — the Divinely designed garments to be worn by Aaron, his sons, their descendants, as they proceed with their Kohanic service — as Kohen Godol and Kohanim in the Mishkan.
But our vort will focus on the purity of the oil for the Menorah and its deeper meaning for the purity of Am Yisrael today.
Aharon Yaakov Greenberg, in his Sefer “Torah Gems” on Sefer Shemos provides commentaries on the purity of the oil which ring true through the generations and today (pages 185 – 186) :
“That they shall take for you pure olive oil…” [“Torah Gems” renderings to English of Sefer Shemos, Perek 27, posuk 20 differ slightly from The Artscroll Stone Chumash] R’ Shmuel bar Nahmani said (citing Menahot 86): “They take for you and not for Me” — These words are applicable to all the commandments and to every good attribute of every person…. “Take you” — the commandment refers back to you. When you do good, do not have any other aim or goal than to improve yourself. Everything you do should be like “pure olive oil” — free of any element or mixture of gain or pleasure.
“That they shall take for you pure olive oil…” We find in a verse (Yirmiyahu 11:16) “The Lord called your name, a green olive tree, fair and of goodly fruit.” Why did Yirmiyahu compare Israel to an olive tree? The reason is that all other liquids get mixed together, whereas oil does not mix and remains separate. By the same token, Israel does not mix with the other nations, as it states (citing Devarim Perek 7, posuk 3), “You will not marry them.” The B’nei Yisrael are by nature unable to mix with other nations, evem when they want to, just as oil is unable to mix with other liquids. The Torah states as fact, You will not marry them,” because by your nature you cannot be assimilated with them, and any such attempts will fail. (“Torah Gems” citing Sefat Emet)
“You will not marry them.” (Midrash Rabbah Tetzaveh 36) The concept involved is as follows: We are told in Yalkut Shimoni (Prov. 9) that all festivals will eventually be abolished except for Purim. The reason Purim will remain is because on it the nature and power of Israel were revealed. After the king had decreed that the Jews be annihilated, they continued to maintain their own identity and did not turn their backs on their religion Nor did they assimilate in order to save their lives. Later, when the positions were reversed and the Jews were given permission to defend themselves and to take revenge on their enemies, we are told, “Many of the people of the land became Jews.” In the course of a day they abandoned their “god,” and joined the Jewish people. The rule is that the other nations can assimilate, while Israel cannot. (“Torah Gems” citing R’ Yosef Pachanowski)
“Beaten for the light…” [Again “Torah Gems” renderings to English of Sefer Shemos, Perek 27, posuk 20 differ slightly from The Artscroll Stone Chumash]. “Beaten” — Only after a person has beaten and suppressed his Evil Inclination can he enjoy the light of the Divine Presence — “for the light.” ( “Torah Gems” citing R’ Moshe Leib of Sason)
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, in his Sefer “Growth Through Torah” seems to equate purity with kindness in discussing Sefer Shemos, Perek 27, posuk 20 (pages 209 – 210) :
Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz commented… [on] what total kindness is. There are many ulterior motives a person can have when he does favors for others. But the ultimate in doing kindness is to do it without any expectations for anything in return. Our attitude should be totally to help someone and not to expect even gratitude from them. (Rabbi Zelig Pliskin citing Daas Chochmah Umussar, essay 116)
While a person should feel gratitude, one who does kindnesses for others for the sake of doing kindness will be free of any negative feelings toward someone who does not reciprocate or express gratitude. Moreover, an elevated person will go out of his way tp make the person receiving his kindness feel free of any obligations towards him.
The Shem Mishmuel (Translated to English by Rabbi Zvi Belovski) on Parshat Tetzaveh brings another point, albeit citing a different Perek and posuk with commentary, which also relates to the point of this vort — purity of the oil and the purity of Am Yisrael today. (pages 176 -177) :
“This is the thing which you shall do to them to sanctify them to act as Kohanim for Me…”
“This is the thing which you shall do to them” — as the verse says, “Take with you words and return to G’d…” (Shem Mishmuel citing Hoshea 14:3). This is what is meant by the verse, “I wash my hands in innocence… that I may sound the voice of thanks.” (Shem Mishmuel citing Tehillim 26:6-7) What is it that Hashem really wants? Words, as the verse says, “Take with you words and return to G’d” [and I will forgive all of your sins]. And what are the words if not Torah? Yisrael reply to Him, “We don’t know how.” He says to them, “Cry and pray before Me. and I will accept you.” (Shem Mishmuel citing Shemos Rabbah 28:4)
In today’s Israel, it seems that there is a lack of purity of thought and word with the separation of governmental powers having been perverted — when political, governmental leaders are indecisive, when military leaders of one persuasion rise to command positions and are chosen and granted entry to powerful governmental positions at the expense of those military leaders who hold differing positions possessing fresh, pure ideas and kindness toward the security of Am Yisrael and with love of Eretz Yisrael. And we see a deep state where Supreme Court justices are chosen by corrupt legal groups and where the nation’s governed, as represented by members of Knesset and a Prime Minister have no say in appointment of judges at any level of the judiciary. This lack of appropriate Judicial reform leaves us with what amounts to a Judicial dictatorship.
The question is, are Israeli politicians, judiciary, and top military brass, and Jewish politicians throughout the world imperiling our royal status, and in fact our national security, by their words, as well as their actions, or lack thereof? Arrogance, hubris and misguided compassion for the cruel on the part of these leaders led to unpreparedness for the animalistic, barbarous cruelty of thousands of Hamas terrorists and their “innocent civilian” buddies in their 7 October invasion and their murder of 1,200 to 1,400 Jews and taking of over 250 hostages into Gaza.
Isn’t it time, as Shem Mishmuel cited above, for Teshuva — “Cry and pray before Me. and I will accept you” from an arrogant and self-agrandising No-Win high military command and a modern-day bunch of leftist miraglim politicians and judiciary?
Not withstanding the current horrendous “ceasefire” and drips and drabs of hostages in exchange for thousands of bloody-handed terrorists, may it be that our Chayalim, regardless of the machinations of their high command, emerge totally victorious — eradicating from the face of the earth Hamas, their terrorist buddies and the so-called “innocent civilians” of Gaza who joined with Hamas in their murderous deeds, that the Chayalim return home whole — physically, mentally and spiritually and that the Chayalim Liberate, as in Entebbe, and bring home all remaining hostages. And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his fifth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. May the MIAs be liberated alive and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, as should the remains of the two chayalim from the Gaza War of ten years ago. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we see, in 5785, the REAL Jews from the Ukraine and Russia as well as the US and Canada, the real Jews via matrilineal descent, make Aliyah enmass — via thorough review by Misrad HaPanim. And may we soon and finally see the total end to the Communist Chinese Wuhan Lab corona virus pandemic and all like viruses and variants. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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