Parashat Tetzaveh
Parshas Tetzaveh is the eighth parsha in the Book of Shemos and the final week of Shovavim-Tat on leap years. It contains 101 pesukim. For the Haftora; Yechezkel's prophecy about the Third Beis Hamikdash, is read.
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Menorah Service
Hashem tells Moshe to command the Jews to bring to him pure olive oil for lighting the Menorah. It is to be lit each evening until the morning by Aharon or his descendants in its location in the Ohel Moed. Lighting the Menorah is a commandment for all generations where applicable.
Pure Olive Oil
Olive oil used for the Menorah had to be completely pure from any sediments. First olives from the top of the tree were gathered. These had received the most sun exposure, causing them to ripen first and produce the most transparent oil. Crushing of the olives was done in a small hand press and not in a grinder, to avoid the mingling of settlements into the oil. Only the first drop of each olive was fitting for the use of the Menorah. After this the olives were placed in a grinder and the produced oil was eligible for use with the 'Mincha' - grain offerings.
Lighting the Menorah
Each and every night the lamps of the Menorah were ignited. Enough oil was added to keep it the flame going for the entire night until the morning. A set amount of a half a 'lug' was, as that measurement had been calculated to last through the longest nights of the year that fallout during the month of Teves. On shorter summer nights, the oil would last past the night and the flames would generally burn well into the day.
When lightning each lamp, the Kohen had to hold the ignition flame by the wick until the entire thing caught on fire and began rising by itself, simply lighting the end of the wick was not good enough.
Bigdei Kehuna
Hashem commands Moshe to separate Aharon and his sons Nadav, Avehu, Elazar and Itamar from the rest of the Jews and turn them into priests. While this was to be done later, upon completion of the Mishkan, Moshe is told to create special garments of honor for Aharon in anticipation of the inauguration event. These garments include the Choshen, Efod, Me’il, Katonet, Mitznefet and Avnet. They are to be created from gold, fine linen as well as blue, scarlet and purple dyed wool by those that have wisdom in their hears. These garments were to be worn by the Kohanim whenever they performed services in the Mishakan or even entered the Ohel Moed. Failure to do so was punishable by death.
Efod / Apron
The Efod was an upside-down apron, draped over the back of the Kohen Gadol's feet from a little above the waistline, reaching until his heels. It was made from gold, twisted fine linen and wool dyed in blue, scarlet and purple colors. It was constructed from three part; the main body of the Efod, the 'Cheshev' waist straps and the 'Kitaphot' shoulder straps. The main apron part of the Efod was slightly wider then the width of a human, so it would drape over the sides of the legs as well.
Cheshev
Coming out of the Ephod were two waist-straps called the 'Cheshev', extruding from both the right and the left of the top of its main section. These were then tied like a belt around the body, to help hold the main part of the garment in place. These were tied above the waist, around the center of the stomach, parallel to the bottom of the heart and the elbows. It served a similar purpose as the Avnet belt but that was used to tie down lower Ketonet tonic while the Cheshev was used to secure the upper Me'il - robe. The Cheshev was woven as a continuation of the main body of the Ephod and unlike the Kitaphot was not produced separately and then sewn on.
Kitaphot
The Ephod had two shoulder straps called the 'Kitaphot' coming out from the top right and left of the Cheshev, from the section worn behind the Kohen Gadol. These straps were then worn going vertically up the sides of the back, curving over the shoulders and extending to the chest on the front of the body. Each shoulder was set with a large sardonyx stone with the name of six tribes engraved on it in the order of their birth. These were to serve as a remembrance of the Jews in front of Hashem. Attached to these shoulder settings were two gold chains that extended down along the chest and looped through two gold rings on the upper corners of the Choshen, then extended back up to the Kitaphot where both sides of each chain were linked.
Choshen / Breastplate
The Choshen was a breastplate set with gemstones, worn only by the Kohen Gadol. It was square and composed of from gold, fine linen and wool dyed in blue, scarlet and purple colors. It contained four horizontal rows each with three gemstones embedded in it. Each of the Choshen's two upper corners had a gold ring that allowed the golden chains linked to the Kitaphot of the Ephod to loop through it, holding it up. Once connected, the Choshen is never to be removed from the Ephod. On the stones were engraved the names of the twelve tribes, this way they would be carried by Aharon over his heart when he enters the Holy and serve as a remembrance before Hashem constantly. In back of the Chosen the Urim and the Tummim were placed.
Rows of the Choshen
- Odem, Pitdah, and Bareketh
- Nofech, Sappir, and Yahalom
- Leshem, Shevo, and Achlamah
- Tarshish, Shoham, and Yashpheh
Me’il / Robe
The Me'il was a robe consisting solely of blue dyed wool, worn only by the Kohen Gadol. It was shaped similar to Katonet - tunic but was worn above it. The Me'il had an opening on its top similar to the opening of a coat of armor. It was turned inward and had a border around it, the work of a weaver so it should not be torn. On the bottom hem of the Me'il there was a row of alternating golden bells and pomegranates. Each pomegranate was created from blue, purple, and crimson dyed wool. When Aharon enters the Holy and leaves the bells would make noise.
Tzitz / Headband
The Tzitz was a headband of pure gold with the words 'Holy to YKVK' engraved upon it. This was worn on the Kohen Gadol's forehead and was held up by straps of dyed blue wool that went over the Mitznephet. The Tzitz atoned for the sins of improper sacrifices and help make the Jews favorable before Hashem.
Katonet / Tunic
The Katonet was a tunic of pure linen woven in a checkered pattern of boxed indents, to produce an elegant design. It was worn by both the high priest as well as by regular priests. The Me’il - robe was shaped similarly to the Katonet but was worn above it and only by the high priest.
Mitznefet / Turban
The Mitznefet was a turban of pure linen. There were two versions of the Mitznefet; those worn by regular Kohanim were tall and pointy and were generally referred to as 'Migbaot' while the one worn by the Kohen Gadol was more flat and domed and was always referred to as the 'Mitznefet'.
Avnet / Belt
The Avnet was a belt of pure linen created with embroidery work. It served a similar purpose as the Cheshev of the Ephod but that was only worn by the High Priest and was used to tie down his upper Miel robe as opposed to the Avnet that secured the lower Ketonet tonic.
Michnasaim / Pants
The Michnasaim were linen pants that extended from the waist down to the thighs.
Yimay HaMiluim
An inaugural procedure was carried out by Moshe on Ahraon and his sons each day for a period of seven days to secure their investiture. Each day a bull was brought as a 'Chatas' - sin offering, serving as an atonement. This atonement performed upon the alter and its anointment with oil for a period of seven days helped sanctify it. Henceforth, the altar became classified as holy of holies causing whatever touched it to become holy.
Inauguration Sacrifice
Moshe is instructed to bring an inauguration sacrifice used to sanctify Aharon and his sons consisting of one young bull and two rams all in perfect uninjured condition. These were brought along with unleavened bread and unleavened loaves mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil; all made from fine wheat flour and placed in a basket.
Apointment of Aharon & Sons
Aharon and his sons were brought near the entrance of the Ohel Moed where Moshe bathed them in water. He then dressed Aharon with the Katonet, Me’il, Ephod, Choshen, Mitznefet and Tzitz. After this Moshe took the anointing oil and poured it on Aharon's head. Aharon's sons were then clothed with Katonets, girdled with Avnets and had Migbaot high hats placed on their heads.
Sacrifice of the Bull
Aharon and his sons then leaned their hands upon the head of the bull in front of Ohel Moed and there it was slaughtered for the sake of a 'Chatas' - sin offering. Moshe then took some of the bull's blood and applied it with his finger to the horns of the alter. The remaining blood he proceeded to pour upon the base of the altar. Moshe then took the fat that covers the innards, the diaphragm with the liver, also the two kidneys and the fat upon them and burnt them upon the altar. The flesh of the bull, its hide and its dung were burnt by Moshe in fire outside the camp.
First Ram Sacrifice
Aharon and his sons leaned their hands upon the first ram's head which served as a 'Olah' - burn offering. Moshe then slaughtered the ram and sprinkled its all around the altar. He then dissected the ram into parts, washed out its innards and legs, then regrouped them with its other parts and head, after which he burnt them upon the altar.
Second Ram Sacrifice
Aharon and his sons leaned their hands upon the second ram's head which served as an inauguration sacrifice. Moshe then slaughtered the ram and took from its blood and put it upon the cartilage of Aaron and his son's right ears, upon the thumbs of their right hands and upon the big toes of their right feet. He then sprinkled blood all around the altar.
Some of the sprinkled blood was taken by Moshe from the alter and was sprinkled along with anointing oil upon Aharon and his sons and their garments, making both the individuals and their clothing holy.
Moshe then took out the fat from the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the innards, the diaphragm of the liver, the two kidneys along with the fat that is upon them, and the right thigh. Then along with one loaf of bread, one loaf of oil bread, and one wafer from the basket of matzoth, these were all placed upon the palms of Aharon and his sons and were waved a waving. Moshe then took this from their hands and burn it upon the altar alongside the previously burnt ram that served as an 'olah' offering.
Moshe then took the breast of the inauguration ram and waved it, making it his portion. The waving of the thigh by Ahron and his sons and the waving of the breast of by Moshe, helped sanctify these body parts of the animal making them a permanent allotment for the eating of the Kohanim from all future 'Shilomim' - peace offerings.
The flesh of the inauguration ram was then cooked by Moshe in a holy location and was eaten by Ahron and his sons with bread from the basket at the entrance of the Ohel Moed. Their eating served the duel purpose of an atonement and in order to invest them with full authority of the priesthood and sanctify them. These foods were sacred and not to be eaten by anyone else and if any of it was left over until the next morning, it had to be burnt in a fire and could not be eaten.
The Promise
Hashem promises to sanctify the Ohel Moed and the altar, as well as Aaron and his sons turning them into priests to serve Him. He will meetings with the Jews in Ohel Moed and be sanctified by His glory. Hashem will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel and will be their God. They will know that He is their God, Who brought them out of Egypt in order that He may dwell in their midst.
Korban Tamid
Twice each day the Tamid offering was sacrificed upon the altar at the entrance of the Ohel Moed. Each offering consisted of a lamb in its first year, one was sacrificed in the morning and one in the afternoon. Included with each lamb was a 'Mincha' offering consisting of one tenth of fine flour, thoroughly mixed with a quarter of a 'hin' of crushed olive oil and a 'Nesech' libation of wine measuring one quarter of a 'hin'.
Mizbeach Hazahav
The Mizbeach Hazahav was an alter used for the burning of the Ketoret incense. It was created from Shitim wood and was plated with gold. Constructed horizontally as a square, measuring 1 cubit by 1 cubit, it was 2 cubits tall and had square horns extending from each of its four corners. A jagged crown like border was added to its top that represented the 'crown of priesthood'. Two golden rings were added underneath its crown on its two corners that held the poles used to carry the Mizbeach. These poles were created from Shittim wood and coated with gold. The Mizbeach Hazahav was placed in the center line of the Ohel Moed, in front of the Parochet - dividing curtain and was classified as 'holy of holies'.
Ketoret Offering
Twice each day Aharon or his descendants would burn an incense of spices upon the Mizbeach Hazahav. One Ketoret offering was brought in the morning while setting up the lamps of the Menorah. A second one was brought when the lights of the menorah were lit in the afternoon. It is forbidden to burn on the internal alter any alien incense, burnt offering, or meal offering, and no libation could be poured upon it.
Yom Kippur Usage
Each Yom Kippur Aharon or and every future Kohen Gadol would apply blood from the 'Chatas' - sin offering on the horns of the golden alter, performing an atonement.