Rabbis’ Message: March 4, 2025
Parashat Tetzaveh
This week’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh, is a rather long and continuous description of how to make the priestly garments (and a few other priestly objects). While typically the Torah practically boasts its writing efficiency, the meticulous description of consecrated clothing and adornments, like the breastpiece, ephod, robe, fringed tunic, headdress (with diadem!), and sash, found within this week’s Torah portion would make even a fashion commentator at the Oscars swoon.
While the amount of space dedicated to these details highlights the importance of these objects to the ancient Israelites, all of this description raises the larger question: how do we make something holy?
It is clearly difficult to construct these garments; after all, lapis lazuli doesn’t turn itself into sowable beads. The amount of detail given within the Torah portion - from the carved wording on the frontlet’s seal to its placement on the headdress - only reminds us of how much time and focused attention was needed to be spent on a project like this. The weaving on the linen fabric alone could take up to a couple of weeks to complete.
I would argue that it is not actually the objects themselves that are the reason that the Divine declares them holy at the end of this Torah portion. Rather, the crafted art is physical embodiment of the time and intention that someone dedicated to these objects. These segments of the artist’s time will never return to them; they are a gift to the community who will witness and appreciate their art. These intentions to create something meaningful are a gift that blesses the community’s efforts to sanctify the moments of their lives.
The time - these segments of our lives that will never return - and the intentions - the feelings that are imbued into the objects - are the holy contributions to the community. In return, they aid in sanctifying the ancient Israelites’ worship.
We are blessed to do the same today. Whenever we choose to co-create - to give gifts of our time and intention and creativity and talents to the community - we reenact the work that made these same priestly garments holy. We offer these pieces of our lives and hearts to our community; we are blessed with holiness in return.
Thank you for being a part of our community.
