Tetzaveh
Exodus 27:20-30:10
Ezekiel 43:10-27
Plus readings for
Shabbat Zachor
Deuteronomy 25:17-19
I Samuel 15:2-34
This week’s Torah portion is usually read during the week that, according to Jewish tradition, includes Moshe’s yahrzeit (anniversary of death), the seventh of Adar.
Everything in the world is by Divine providence. How much more so is this true for a confluence of a Torah portion with an auspicious date.
A yahrzeit is a time for reflection about the meaning and purpose of a life. At the beginning and middle of life, it is difficult to know the exact purpose, but at the end, one can view the beginning, the middle and the end, and realize what the essence of a life was all about.
Appropriately, this portion in its opening verses explains to us what Moshe’s life and purpose was.
G-d commands Moshe, “You should tezaveh the Children of Israel and they shall take to you pure olive oil” (Exodus 27:20). The word tezavah, besides its literal meaning to command, also means to connect and bond.
As the holy Zohar explains, the origin of this Hebrew word mitzvah (commandment), the Aramaic word tzavta, means to connect and bond. As the Zohar explains, through performing a mitzvah, we become connected and united with G-d, the commander of the mitzvah.
Thus the Almighty tells Moshe that his mission is to “tezaveh” the Children of Israel, to bond and unite each and every one with G-d.
G-d reveals to Moshe that the way to accomplish this is to realize that everyone posses pure olive oil, a metaphor for the spiritual G-d-given ability to enlighten the world with the light of Torah and mitzvot.
In the essence of every soul is the desire to be close to G-d. Through Moshe’s leadership and guidance, this potential is realized. The eternal instructions of the Torah conveyed to us by Moshe help us realize our desire to bond with G-d.
It was necessary for Moshe to understand, and see that everyone has “pure olive oil” — the divinely given spiritual potential. It does not need to be created; it just needs to be revealed.
This instruction given to Moshe is true and relevant to all teachers and leaders. They should always discover the “pure olive oil” in every soul and do their utmost to reveal it.
In doing the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s work, in reaching out to people, one is constantly impressed and inspired by the “pure olive oil” in people’s souls.
In our community, I am always discovering these gems in people’s souls. Just as one example, I have become acquainted with Robert Breslauer, who quietly and modestly works completely voluntarily for the benefit of our people Israel, as well as for all of mankind; there’s not a cause in Milwaukee, it seems, that he doesn’t give to.
And he is just one of many people I have seen who use their potential to brighten the world with love and kindness.
This potential exists within all of us. Through the eternal guidance of Moses, we can all discover how to utilize it and bring about the bright and enlightened world with revelation of our righteous Moshiach speedily in our day. Amen.
Rabbi Yoseph Samuels is director of Chabad of Downtown.
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