๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐: Tetzaveh, Tetsaveh, T’tzaveh, or T’tzavveh (ืชึฐึผืฆึทืึถึผืโโHebrew for “[you] shall command,” the second word and first distinctive word in the parashah) is the 20th weekly Torah portion (ืคึธึผืจึธืฉึธืืโ, parashah) in the annual cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the Book of Exodus. The parashah reports God’s commands to bring olive oil for the lamp (ืึฐื ืึนืจึธืโ, Menorah), make sacred garments for the priests, conduct an ordination ceremony, and make an incense altar.
๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐: Exodus 27:20-30:10
๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: One part of this Torah portion that has fascinated people for centuries is the Levite Breastplate with various gemstones on it representing all 12 tribes of Israel. I too have wondered about the purpose of the breastplate and various gemstones on it. Often we think The Holy one does not care about how we look but in this Torah portion we see that Levites were being given explicit and detailed instructions for what they should wear. Tradition states that Levite women would sew the linen garments for the Priest. Remember Levi is a tribe so of course there were women Levites even if they were not priest in the temple. The Holy One cares about beauty and what we put on as we can see from this Torah portion. As I read this weekโs Torah portion I remember Ephesians 6 where Apostle Paul urges believers to โto put on the whole Armor of Elohimโ, could Paul had been referring back to the practice Levites had of putting on special garments before serving in the temple? What we wear in the natural is important but also what we put on spiritually is very much important if we plan to serve The Holy One.
๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐: A History of Birthstones and the Breastplate of Aaron | Gemporia
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: What are your thoughts on the gemstones included on the Levitical Breastplate? What gemstone is your favorite?
๐ ๐๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐คโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง!