The Eighth section of the Chumash / Book of Exodus, begins as G-d tells Moses to command (Tetzaveh, in Hebrew) the Jewish people to provide the oil to be used to fuel the lamps of the Tabenacles Candelabra. He then describes the special garments that the priests were to wear, finally describing the Altar for incense.
G-d told Moses, “The Breastplate must not come loose from the Ephod.” (an apron like garment that tied around the waist)” 28:28
The Ephod hung from the high priest’s back down to his heels, whilst the Breastplate rested in front, opposite his heart. The “back” represents that which is external and mundane – the aspects of life that maybe necessary but are not the focus of our main interests. In contrast, the “front” signifies the internal and sublime – the real focus of interest – just as our face, which expresses our inner thoughts and feelings, is on the front of our body.
The fact that the Breastplate must not become disconnected from the Ephod therefore means that the high priest was not allowed to have any gap between the sublime and the mundane, the essential and external aspects of his life.
PARSHAT ZACHOR..
This week we read the second of the special portions that are read before Passover.
On the Shabbat before Purim, the holiday on which we celebrate the foiling of Haman the Amalekite’s plot to destroy the Jewish people, the weekly Torah reading is supplemented with the Zachor (“Remember!”) reading (Deuteronomy 25:17-19) in which we are commanded to remember the evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of the earth.
When the Israelites left Egypt, no nation dared pick a fight with them. Who would start up with a people whose G‑d just smacked around the mighty Egypt with ten awesome plagues, and drowned the surviving few in the sea? Only Amalek, driven by profound hatred which defied logic, came to wage battle.
According to many Halachic authorities, there is a Biblical requirement for all men to hear the special Zachor reading.
Wishing you a successful week followed by a meaningful Shabbat and joyous Purim to follow, Monday night 2ndMarch Tuesday 3rdMarch.
With our continued prayers for an everlasting peace in Isarel and a round the world with the arrival of Moshiach.