Besides the fact that this is the only parasha since the birth of Moshe that the name of Moshe is not mentioned, there is another very unique aspect of this parasha. This is the ONLY parasha in the Torah that consists solely of God speaking. There is no third person language, as in “God says.” No one else is speaking or referred to in this parasha. The entire parasha consists of God giving a lecture to Moshe. This is a lecture about what the Kohanim should wear while performing their duties in the Temple during the High Holidays. On the surface, the subject matter is very bland. It’s about the ritual use of oil, at first, and then entirely about the priestly vestments.
God spends the entire parasha dictating the nature of these things.
There is nothing happening in this parasha. There is no action. There are no other people speaking. There is nothing but God actually talking. This fact makes the message remarkable and awesome.
Other parasha’s have sections wherein the Deity transmits uninterrupted bulletins. These “words” are the stuff of creation. In the book of Bereishit, God’s utterances create the physical world. Only what God actually says, phrases like “Let there be light,” are the words that brought the world into existence.
God revealing the Ten Commandments to the senses and the minds of each individual in the Hebrew Nation is also a foundational act of formation. Perfectly focused attention united the entire nation into one spiritual entity at the moment of Revelation. The people gathered below Mt. Sinai experienced spiritual epiphany as they reached a pinnacle of prophecy. Perceiving unadulterated Heavenly communication created an unblemished and direct connection to God. No intermediary was present or necessary. Moses was not facilitating understanding of the spiritual message.
Another example of the power of God speaking was when God gave the commandments and the two tablets to Moses on Mt. SInai. This was a private audience. While receiving the tablets of the law, Moses was totally absorbed into the state of prophecy. Moses is more spiritually consumed than at any other time in his existence. At that moment, he ceased to exist as a physical human being. There is nothing physical when the only thing happening is God’s words. Therefore, Moses’s name is not necessary or even possible. In fact, Moses as a separate entity does not exist; he is entirely spirit.
Tetzaveh consists of the most profound heavenly communication. It is a parasha of creation. The focus is the priestly wardrobe. The lesson is about clothing.
The presentation teaches us that clothing is a bridge unifying the heavenly and earthly realms. God’s words in Tetzaveh create a material object (clothing) that is parallel to spiritual reality. In general, this means that we must relate to the physical world to attain the highest spiritual level. God is describing our external world (the clothing) by presenting it in a parasha that is entirely creative and spiritual. The two function together. Just as our garments provide a physical transition on earth, they also represent a spiritual transition in heaven. Thus we are being told to attend to the physical world. If we are going to be able to receive pure God (God’s words without any qualifiers or other distracting events or people, which is what is uniquely happening in this parasha), then we have to find our best fit in the physical world. We have to find our best clothing.
This means we have to find our best way of being in the world. God describes the best way for the priests to relate to the holiest place and the holiest moment. This is by their clothing. We extend the concept to our lives (and the priests’ lives) by saying we have to find the best interface for ourselves. This involves how we dress, how we groom, how and at what work we devote our life’s labors (job, hobby, family, creativity, altruistic activity, etc.), pursuit of health, taking care of others, relating to the other parts of the world, etc.
Of all our senses, the visual is the most highly evolved and complex. It provides more input than olfactory, auditory, tactile, or taste. We orient ourselves and experience the world more through visual cues than any other sense.
As we strive to engage with our spiritual powers, our physical sensory perceptions loom large as distractions. The visual is most interfering. It is also each person’s first perception in most encounters. Only when we get closer to something or somebody are we able to sense the smell, sound, touch, and taste.
One of the most distracting visions is that of the human body. From the moment that Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden, we have been obsessed with this image. Covering our bodies is a necessity for the advancement of civilization and the formation of human society. The unique and awesome presentation of Tetzaveh elevates clothing to transcendence.
The importance of our garb implies how we can best combine the heavenly and earthly powers. Removing the distraction of seeing another person unclothed, we are better able to appreciate his or her other qualities. And we do require this knowledge of intelligence, attitude, and sensitivity, among other attributes, as we gravitate to or from those we meet.
Choice of clothing is itself a helpful way to know another person.
Although human skin is one of the better natural barriers to infection in the animal world, we do need clothes to protect that vital organ. Warding off scratches, blocking the sun, shielding from the cold, and helping to avoid random insect bites are some of the health benefits of clothing.
Many occupations necessitate appropriate and functional clothing. Army personnel, firemen, police, and medieval tournament jousters are examples of recognizable outerwear specific to the job.
Each of the following attributes of clothing can enhance spiritual growth, a prime directive in the human relationship to God.
How one dresses oneself can promote a positive self image. This adds to confidence and reduces anxiety. The result is heightened self esteem. This is conducive to successfully practicing mindful meditation, the process whereby we connect with the celestial realm.
As we shop for and create a preferred outfit, we become increasingly self aware. As discussed in the blog: “I AM HERE – THE ESSENCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT,” December 14, 2020, consciously turning inward opens a path to the heavenly world.
The choice of apparel contributes to an individual’s perception of her or his uniqueness. It presents an opportunity to focus on the special nature of one’s distinctive soul. This becomes an exercise of meditation. At the same time, the challenge of rejecting thoughts of pride is introduced. Mentally discarding the false ego is hard work; it strengthens concentration. The result is to ease the way to appreciation of connection to God and the heavenly powers.
In my blog “MEDITATION FOR SOUL AND BODY,” May 9, 2021, the nature and pursuit of this activity is explored.
Finally, one’s attire leads to personal satisfaction. Achieving a state of contentment creates an internal milieu supporting engagement with our latent metaphysical natures. A mind in turmoil is in battle against the tranquility of the soul. The path to the divine is one of peace and harmony. Thus, a benefit of appropriate clothing facilitates progress toward uniting our material and ethereal lives.
Overcoming the arrogant pretension that may accompany such intimate gratification fortifies the effort to connect with the spiritual world using meditation. Establishing inner comfort while pushing away distracting thoughts are key aspects of this program.
A life that combines the growth and challenges of the earthly world with the transcendence and expansiveness of the heavenly world creates the greatest opportunity for ultimate fulfillment. It repairs the inadequacies in the former by introducing the harmony inherent to the latter. Tetzaveh, an unusual combination of nothing but God’s instruction with an emphasis on outer garments, proclaims the awesome role of wardrobe in actualizing the prime commandment described in my May 21, 2020 blog “YOU WILL BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.”
Ideally and most productively, life is a meditative experience. Working towards this eventual spectacular goal requires mental focus on every endeavor in which one partakes. From Tetzaveh, we understand that concentration on clothing, from envisioning preferences to shopping to wearing, is most emotionally, materially, and spiritually satisfying and enriching.
Health and Spirit by Dr. Jack Zoldan 