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Rabbi Pam explains that when G-d rstappointed Moses as the leader o theJewish people with the mission o reeingthem rom slavery in Egypt, Mosesrepeatedly reused to accept the position.He gave various reasons why he was notthe right person or this task, but G-d knewthat his main consideration was his olderbrother, Aaron.

Four decades earlier, when the Egyptian

bondage was particularly dicult, Moseshad escaped rom Egypt ater killing anEgyptian taskmaster who had been merci-lessly beating a Jewish slave. The onus oleadership during these arduous times ellupon his brother Aaron. When G-d want-ed to appoint Moses as the leader, Moseselt that Aaron would be justiably upsetby his brothers promotion at his ownexpense. But G-d reassured Moses thatAaron would not be envious at all; rather,he would be elated despite his own losso status. This, the Talmud explains, is

why Aarons virtuous heart was worthy owearing the miraculous choshen mishpat.

To ully comprehend the signicanceo Aarons actions, Rabbi Pam gives acontemporary example. In a politicalcampaign, both contenders have twospeeches prepared on election night.Clearly, the winning candidate has an easiertime delivering his victory speech than theone making a concession speech. The loser

must put on a good ace and congratulatethe individual hes been competingwith or months. He must put aside hiseelings o hurt and rejection, acing thepainul realization that the majority ovoters rejected him. When he delivers hiscongratulatory speech, he may seem neoutwardly, but deep down he is resentuland outraged at his opponents victory.

When Moses was appointed leader o theJewish people, Aaron did not simply puton a smile; he elt genuinely happy or hisbrother and helped him many times. That

is why Aaron was privileged to wear tchoshen mishpat.

We dont all run or oce, but we are

aced with situations in which othreceive recognition and appreciation. LAaron, we can graceully acknowledthat anothers promotion does not negaour own sel-worth. Congratulating hor her does not diminish our standingsociety but makes us into better peopWe can rest assured that G-d notices owillingness to give others their due ain turn will do the same or us.

Rabbi Sklar can be reached atparsha@partnersintorah.org

PARSHAS TETZAVEH 9 ADAR 5772 | 3 MARCH 20

...

You shall make garments of sanctity for Aaron your

brother for glory and splendor. (Numbers 28:2)

One of the eight priestly garments worn by Aaron the High Priest was thechoshen mishpat. This was a breastplate that was not merely a beauti-ful masterpiece displaying the twelve tribes names and precious stones; it alsomiraculously lit up with answers to the most challenging questions relating to

Jewish law and national importance. What made Aaron worthy of being giventhis distinguished honor? The Midrash Raba (Numbers 4:14) says it was due to

Aarons exemplary character traits. The Talmud (Shabbos 139a) further elabo-rates that because Aaron would rejoice in his heart over Mosess success (Numbers4:14), he was honored with wearing the choshen mishpat over his heart.

WORD of theWEEK

Twelve precious stones that are placedon the breastplate o the High Priest areound in the Torah portion this week.One is sapir (Exodus 28:18).Some identiy the sapir as sapphire,based on the Greek Septuagints

translation,sappheiros. Other sources

claim that the sapir o the Torah isa clear gemstone, either crystal ordiamond (Radak, Sefer Hashorashim).The Ibn Ezra (Exodus 24:10) maintains

that it is a translucent red stone, andsome say that it was lapis-lazuli, a bluegemstone (Aryeh Kaplan,Living Torah,ad loc.). The Sages (Siri, ParshasBehaaloscha 43) maintain that theTablets o the Law were made osapir,and the Zohar (2:272:1) states that thestaf o Moses was also made osapir.

Parsha Perspectives RABBI Z . SKLAR

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HEY, I NEVER KNEW THAT

One o the items worn by the High Priest was the tzitz, the gold orehead-plate, inscribed with the words, Holy unto G-d. The Talmud (Sukkah 5a)discusses the exact location o these words. Rabbi Elazar Ben Rav Yossi is quotedas saying, I saw the tzitz o the High Priest in Rome and Holy unto G-d waswritten on one line. There are numerous places in the Talmud where rabbisare cited has having seen various Temple items in Rome. Josephus Flavius (The

Jewish War, 7:158) writes the ollowing: Vespasian decided to erect a Templeo Peace. This was very speedily completed and in a style surpassing all humanconception. For, besides having prodigious resources o wealth on which to draw,he also embellished it with ancient masterworks o painting and sculpture; indeedinto that shrine were accumulated and stored all objects or the sight o which

men had once wandered over the whole world Here too, he laid up the vesselsof gold from the Temple of the Jews, on which he prided himself [emphasisadded]. Ironically, Vespasians Temple o Peace was the place where the spoilso his wars were displayed, including the treasures o our Temple, and was, verylikely, the place where our sages saw these holy objects.

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A QUESTIONFOR THE RABBIS

The Code of Jewish La(Yoreh Deah 265:12) statthat it is customary to serve estive meal ater a circumcisio

( bris milah). Various sourcare cited or this custom; som(Gaon o Vilna, ad loc.) reer Abraham preparing a east atcircumcising Isaac, and som(Beer Hagolah, ad loc). reto the statement in the Talmu(Shabbat 130a) that the Jewwill always perorm this mitzva

with joy. Rabbeinu Bach(Genesis 17:13) cites a verse the Torah portion this week the source or this custom. Thverse (Exodus 29:33) states ththe kohen-priests are obligateto eat the oferings, and sincthe bris is compared to oferina sacrice, the ulllment o th

mitzvah o eating the ofering accomplished by eating a estimeal ater the bris.

Table TalkFOR DISCUSSION AROUND THE SHABBAT TABLEThe Talmud (Arachin 16) says that each o the garments worn by the High Priestatoned or common sins; in act, every aspect, every detail o the garment atones or adiferent aspect o the sin. TheMeil(poncho) was made out o sky blue wool and had72 golden bells alternating with colorul pomegranates (made out o abric) hangingrom the bottom hem. These bells tinkled as the High Priest entered the Temple. TheMeilatoned or the sin o speaking badly about other people (lashon hara).

(The bells were required to ring when the High Priest entered the Temple. Ithey didnt, it was a capital ofense. What connection could chiming bells have

with not speaking badly about others?

)TheMeilhad a thick woven border around the neckline. It was orbidden totear this sewn lip o the Meil. What could tearing the lip symbolize that theTorah should orbid it?

)The Tzitzis (ringes) was another priestly garment that contained blue strings;the blue o the Tzitzis was to remind us o the blue sky, which would remindus o G-d. But unlike the Tzitzis, theMeilwas the only priestly garment completelywoven out o techeiles. What might the blue o theMeilrepresent?