Greetings Friends and welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa based in Mason City. Before we get too far into this a couple of important dates. We are now in the joyous Hebrew month of Adar! Some 2,500 years ago, the miracle of Purim (Think the Book of Esther) which saved the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of the wicked Haman – a descendant of the mortal enemy of the Jewish nation, Amalek. To celebrate this you are invited to a Purim Party on 6 March at 6:30PM at the shul. If you are coming please call President Alan on the Shul Phone: 641-903-3576. Also we'll hold services on Erv Shabbat 10 March at 7:00PM and our Midrash on Shabbat the 11th at 10:00AM. Hope to see you in shul.
Parsha Tetzaveh
This week we've been reading Exodus 27:20 - 30:10. The Hebrew word Tetzaveh means, "and you will command" as in, "Now shall you command the Children of Israel that they should take for you pure olive oil pressed for illumination, to kindle the lamp continually." (Ex. 27:20). The oil had to be so pure that only the first one or two drops from the press could be used. Later we are told that to make the flour offering we could use oil that may not be as pure for the mixture.
The rabbis offer a great lesson here. For those things that are spiritual use only the best for those things that serve as a food (the flour offering was eaten) you can skimp a bit. That is why, for example that observant Jews make sure the tallis is of superior quality and the tefillin should also be of high quality as well as the mezuzah on your doorpost. Each of these things bring us closer to G-d and we should take care of them and acquire the best we can afford. Meanwhile any kosher wine is acceptable and there are many kinds. So too with kosher food products. We can choose less expensive products...no worries.
The Vestments
The rest of the Parsha deals with the special vestments worn by the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest. From the inner clothing to the outer clothing. From the tiny bells on the bottom of the robe to the very top of the head of the High Priest and the tiara. What is interesting about this is that there is a direct order on how the High Priest would dress. The final item that he put on would be the tiara. In other words the Kohen Gadol was now worthy from the bottom of his robe to the top of his head.
This is also important to each of us. It illustrates the importance of being "whole" in our faith. While sometimes we might falter in our observance the important thing is that we should always strive to become better. To, from top to bottom, understand that we have a duty to perform. That which is to honor G-d and do good by our fellow humans. In that way, both spiritually and in the world we are doing G-d's bidding.
Thanks for reading and Shabbat Shalom!
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