THE MOST IMPORTANT TORAH PARASHA

The most important section (parasha) of the Five Books of Moses is Tetzaveh.

The entire content is about the garments and the confirmation process of the Priests, also known as the Cohanim. Much of it is about the High Priest, the Cohan Gadol.

Why is a long discussion about clothing so important? How do we know that this is true? What is the message we need to learn and understand?

Many Bible commentators focus on the fact that the name of Moses is not mentioned even once in this parasha. This is remarkable because “Moses” appears in every parasha from the one in which he is born until the final section of the Torah, when he dies. He is a central character of the document, and his absence is notable.

The usual reason why Moses is not mentioned in this parasha is because Moses had requested that God erase him from the Torah if the Jews were not forgiven for the Sin of the Golden Calf. This conversation occurred in the parasha that follows Tetzaveh: Ki Tisa. Anyway, leaving Moses out of Tetzaveh is believed to be a punishment.

What is truly unique and amazing about Tetzaveh is that the entire parasha is God speaking. This is the only parasha wherein only God speaks. There are other parashas where it seems the only speaker is God. But every one of these sections also has a narrator saying the commonly used phrase “And God said to Moses,” or something similar. In Tetzaveh, every word comes directly from God.

True, Moses’ name is not spoken. But God is speaking directly to Moses throughout. God is dictating the proper ceremonial practices that are the substance of the parasha.

So, Moses is not left out. His name is not mentioned. This is not remarkable. Most of the time in the Torah, when God speaks to Moses (and this is often), God does not use Moses’ name while addressing him. God’s words are preceded by the phrase “And God spoke to Moses, saying . . .” But while speaking, God does not use Moses’ name. Similarly, when two people are engaged in discourse, they speak to each other without saying names. So, it should not be surprising that the name Moses is never seen in this parasha. There is nothing remarkable about this fact.

An entire parasha wherein God is speaking only and directly to Moses seems to be more of a recognition than a punishment. This special and unequaled occurrence is not seen elsewhere in the Torah.

That God is speaking to a mortal person exclusively in this parasha teaches an amazing and incredible insight. We learn to be aware and conscious that God speaks to people. Any individual? Moses is a special person. Just to the Jewish people? I think anyone can speak to and hear God. It may take a certain energy and focus, but we all have that ability.

Addressing God requires a belief in God. Faith varies greatly among so many people in the world. Opinions differ widely on the nature and definition of God.

These concepts should not come as a shock either. Belief in oneself and one’s capabilities presents in many different forms; as different as the diversity and dissimilarity seen among people. Everybody looks at the world uniquely, with all manner of appreciation and interpretation of observations and explanations.

Hearing God is also something we all do. God does not speak as we are accustomed to hearing. God expresses in non-verbal language. Maybe events. Maybe coincidences. Maybe quietly as concepts. Maybe earth shattering revelations. Everyone must discern and endeavor to separate the body from the soul. The earthly from the heavenly.

What about this focus on clothing?

I discussed that clothing is the material manifestation and action that connects the Heavenly and Earthly realms. It covers the human body to minimize and hopefully avoid the distraction a naked person would be to his or her own or another’s ability to focus and meditate on the spiritual dimension inherent in the human soul.

Religions have rituals that concentrate on the clothing to clarify the process of seeking God. Clothing helps the mind not to wander. Our minds are constantly active and creating. Turning this activity off fosters a beautiful appreciation of a hidden aspect in our lives.

This topic was discussed further in my Tetzaveh blog of November 11, 2021

For more of this type of commentary, read my other blogs on health of the body and spirit at www.soulbodydrz.com