Shushan Purim 5781
Issue No: 483
זכור ושמור בדבור אחד נאמרו
[27:20]
וְאַ ָּתה ְתצַ וֶּה אֶּ ת ְבנֵי י ְִש ָּראֵ ל
And you shall command Bnei Yisroel
פרשת תצוה ה׳תשפ׳׳א
Instead of simply stating atoh – you, our parshah opens with the conjunctive vov – and you, in circumstances where its significance is not immediately apparent. The sefer Toras Shimon suggests that the inclusion of the vov was intended by Hashem to be an allusion to Moshe that he should always see himself as no more than an adjunct to Bnei Yisroel; indeed, as one who would be completely insignificant had the greater commune of the people of Israel not existed. How was such a degree of humility to be achieved? Through tetzaveh es bnei Yisroel – command the children of Israel, tetzaveh being an expression of attachment (based on the Gemoroh in Maseches Shabbos 30b). Attaching himself to Bnei Yisroel, was the way in which Moshe would never lose sight of his own insignificance. The possuk continues, ve’yik’chu eilecho shemen zayis zoch – let them take for you pure olive oil. The Toras Shimon says that oil is a symbol of wisdom; the word zoch – pure has a gematria of twenty-seven, being the total number of letters in the alef-beis (including final letters); kossis – beaten is an allusion to humility. All of these elements are necessary leha’alos ner tomid – to kindle the lamp perpetually. The word ner is an acronym for nefesh/neshomo and ruach, the component parts of the Jewish soul, which are set aflame by the wisdom of the Torah when taught and learned in selfless fashion. The sefer Toras Shimon adds how in the secular world, the more aggressive and assertive one is, the more materially successful one frequently becomes. True success in life, however, is achieved through humility, which brings spiritual success that lasts for eternity.
[28:2]
וּל ִת ְפאָ ֶרת ְ ית ִבגְ ֵדי־קֹ ֶדשׁ ְלאַ הֲ רֹן אָ ִחיָך ְלכָבוֹד ָ וְעָ ִשׂ
You shall make holy garments for Aharon, your brother, for honour and splendour When commanding Moshe personally in the tailoring of the bigdei kehunoh (priestly vestments) for Aharon and his sons, Hashem directs that they should be manufactured lechovod u’lisiferes (for the purposes of honour and splendour). Yet, in the very next possuk, when telling Moshe to convey Hashem’s bespoke clothing requirements to kol chacham leiv – all those wise-hearted artisans, who would create the finished products, Hashem states that Aharon’s garments should be made le’kadsho le’chahano li – to sanctify him to minister to Me. No mention is made of the earlier stipulation that they were to be redolent of honour and splendour. The sefer Iyunei Chayim quotes a beautiful explanation in the name of Rav Dovid Cooper זצ״ל. He explains a well-known principle; a person scarcely needs reminding of something that will inherently be obvious to him. Only that which might not come so readily to mind need be specified. Thus, to Moshe, who was so … page 2 We hope that these Divrei Torah, which are designed especially for use during the seudos, will בע״הenhance your Shabbos and may they hasten refuos and yeshuos to all who need.
The Levush writes that on Shabbos we can attain higher levels of wisdom as it is a day especially designated for this purpose. Therefore, we should seek ways to increase the amount of Torah that we discuss on this holy day.
גוט שבת/ שבת שלום ms
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