Absence is Present

By Yocheved Kalen / Class of 2025

Parshat Tetzaveh continues with commandments and descriptions of the elements that are necessary for the building and running of the Mishkan There is something very unique that is missing from this parsha Moshe’s name is mentioned in every parsha in the books of Shemot, Vayikra, and Bamidbar The Baal HaTurim on this week’s parsha asks why Moshe

Rabbeinu’s name does not appear in the Sedra

The Baal HaTurim explains that after the Jews sinned with the golden calf, Moshe went up to Hashem to daven for forgiveness When speaking to Hashem, Moshe stated (Shmot 32:32), “And now if You will forgive their sin! But, if not, erase me now from Your book that You have written ” Although

Hashem did forgive Bnei Yisrael, Moshe’s statement left a mark in the Torah. The Baal HaTurim explains, based on the gemara, that when a wise man utters a curse even a conditional curse the curse is destined to be fulfilled This is specifically done for this parsha since the reading of this parsha falls out during the week of the Yahrtzeit [anniversary of the death] of Moshe Rabbeinu

R’ Weintraub offers a deeper explanation to this question The Gemara (Bava Kamma 61a) relates that certain people risked their lives to deliver a new Torah teaching to Dovid HaMelech. Because they risked their lives to do it, their teachings are not taught in their names Why should they be punished and their names forgotten because of their great devotion to the Torah? R’ Weintraub explains that the omission of their names is not a punishment, rather it is a sign of great accomplishment A person’s name is not coincidental, because the name reflects the person’s soul’s manifestation through his body Thus we find individuals in Tanach who are called by different names on different occasions, reflecting different accomplishments. It follows that when one risks his life for a mitzvah for which he is willing to give up his body, he no longer relates to his name Moshe was willing to give his life for the Jewish People, and he thus didn’t need his name When a person takes that step, only his real essence–the real “You”–remains

By Livana Hofman / Class of 2025