Torah Portion

The Outward Dressing,
The Inner Values

for the priests but to ensure that those
who wear it will be committed to
kedusha, to holiness and the service of
God.
Those who are wise and insightful in
the community, Moses knows, will be
able to discern who is a true leader of
the people and who is merely wearing
the beautiful uniform, hoping to attain
dignity and adornment.
he Torah frequently includes
"Don't judge a book by its cover" is
a doubling or repeating of a
only
the latest rephrasing of this signifi-
text to teach a significant les-
cant
lesson.
In Pirkei Avot, it is taught,
son.
"Don't look at the drinking vessel rather
This literary pattern as edu-
at what is in it," for the best
cational device might consist
wine can be poured from a
of a word being written twice
rather plain looking bottle.
— "Justice, justice shall you
For thousands of years, the
pursue," for example. In this
Jewish people have been com-
week's portion, a command is
manded not to be taken in by
repeated, with minor changes,
glitter and outer beauty, but
to instruct us that there is
rather to concentrate on what
more in the text than mere
is within. This is not to deny
wording.
that there is value in appreci-
Exodus 28.2 says, "Make
ating the beautiful, but it is to
RAB BI
sacral vestments for your
recognize that the more
NO RMAN T.
brother, Aaron, for dignity and
important value of a person
RO MAN
adornment." And the next .
or an object is the inner beau-
Special to The
verse (28.3) continues, "You
ty and holiness.
Jewish News
shall instruct all who are skill-
No leader (neither religious
ful, whom I have endowed
nor political) deserves our support solely
with the gift of skill to make Aaron's
because of attractiveness or charisma.
vestments, for consecrating him to serve
No synagogue or school should be val-
Me as priest."
ued only because of size or architecture
These sentences serve as our intro-
or style.
duction to the notion of priesthood.
Rather, the true leader should be
Before even their duties are described to
respected because of integrity, morality,
us, the Torah teaches about how Aaron
wisdom of heart, and skill. Later in this
and his sons, the Kohanim, are-to be
chapter, the Torah speaks of Aaron as
dressed! And it's said twice. Why?
"carrying the judgment of the Israelites
Perhaps there is a vital lesson here for
over his heart before God at all times."
all to remember, not just when we look
Our Jewish institutions should be
to our "priests," our leaders, but when
measured in terms of how they inspire
we approach each other and our values
holiness, Yiddishkeit and menschlichkeit.
as well.
We admire the outwardly beautiful, but
The first of our two verses, singularly
we must also insist that it be linked to
commanding Moses to make special,
the inner beauty of holiness and service
holy clothing for Aaron and his sons,
to God. Fl
emphasizes the need for "dignity and
adornment." The sacral vestments, easily
identified by all who would view the
priests, would automatically instill a
Why is the Torah scroll "dressed" in
sense of respect and awe. Their
covering, sash, breastplate and
wardrobe would be beautiful, evoking
crowns similar to the sacral vest-
glory and respect. The Kohanim, in
ments of Aaron and his sons?
roles of special honor, should be dressed
What makes something beauti-
in the most beautiful of uniforms, signi-
ful?
Why do we place such a high
fying their importance to and leadership
value
on being pretty or handsome?
of the community
Should there be a double stan-
But the second verse carries the lesson
dard for religious, educational and
one step further, addressing the commu-
political leaders in our society:
nity's skilled artisans (a more accurate
Should we expect them to maintain
translation of the Hebrew might be ren-
a higher level of integrity, morality
dered as "wise of heart"). They are told
and service to God?
not only to make the unique clothing

...ancient Jewish
wisdom for
contemporary challenges.

S I f IrTiproveme.

Shabbat Tetzaveh:
Exodus 27:20-30:10;
Deuteronomy 25:17-19;
I Samuel 15:2-34.

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