וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד׃

“And you shall command . . .” (27:20)

“Tetzaveh is the only Parshah in the Torah since Moses’ birth in which Moses’ name does not appear (with the exception of the book of Deuteronomy, which consists mostly of a first-person narrative spoken by Moses). The reason for this is that [when the people of Israel sinned with the golden calf,] Moses said to G‑d: “If You do not [forgive them], erase me from the book that You have written” (Exodus 32:31). This was realized in the Parshah of Tetzaveh, since the censure of a righteous person, even if made conditional on an unfulfilled stipulation, always has some effect.”

Baal HaTurim cited at Chabad.org

“This Torah reading is often read on the week of Purim, a day when one might dress up as some version or representation of their soul, such as a king or queen, or they might dress themselves as another person and seemingly conceal their true identity. On a deeper level, wearing an external mask allows a person to reveal their internal light; the mask is not there to conceal, but rather, paradoxically, reveal.”

Pinson, Dovber. Awakenings: Drawing Life from the Weekly Torah Reading (p. 193). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“And you shall make holy garments for Aharon your brother for glory and for beauty.”

Exodus 28:2

וְעָשִׂיתָ בִגְדֵי־קֹדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן� אָחִיךָ לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת׃

“The officer of the Temple Mount used to go round to every watch, with lighted torches before him, and if any watcher did not rise [at his approach] and say to him, “Shalom to you, officer of the Temple Mount, it was obvious that he was asleep. Then he used to beat him with his rod. And he had permission to burn his clothes. And the others would say: What is the noise in the courtyard? It is the cry of a Levite who is being beaten and whose clothes are being burned, because he was asleep at his watch. Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob said: once they found my mother's brother asleep, and they burnt his clothes.”

Mishah, Middot 1, translated by Dr. Joshua Kulp, Sefaria.org

“This week’s Torah reading imbues us with the power to create ‘garments’ of honor and beauty. It gives us an ability to express our soul through the way we dress, speak, behave, and think. We are empowered to realign any untrue expressions of who and what we really are, and allow our inner truth to be reflected consistently through our outer self.”

Pinson, Dovber. Awakenings: Drawing Life from the Weekly Torah Reading (p. 193). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.”�1 Samuel 17:38-39

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. . .”

“…In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”�Ephesians 6:10-20

Armor

of God?

“HaShem reigns; he is robed in majesty; Hashem is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established;

it shall never be moved.”�Psalms 93:1

“Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, �and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”�Isaiah 11: 5

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of HaShem to Zion.”�Isaiah 52:7-8

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”�Romans 13:12

“Why were all these stones placed there? So that God should look at them and at the garments of the priest as he entered [the Holy of Holies] on the Day of Atonement and be mindful of the merits of the tribes. R. Joshua of Siknin said in the name of R. Levi: ‘It can be compared to a prince whose tutor wanted to go in before the king to plead on behalf of his son, but was afraid of those who stood by lest one of them should attack him. What did the king do? He clothed him in his royal purple cloak, so that all who saw him might be afraid of him…”

“…Similarly, Aaron used to enter the Holy of Holies almost hourly [on that day], and had it not been for the many merits which entered with him and helped him [in his petitions], he would have been unable to go in,-on account of the angels that were there. For this reason did God give unto him [garments] after the pattern of the holy garments, as it says, ‘And for Aaron’s sons you shalt make tunics, etc.’ (Ex 28:40), just as it is written, ‘And He put on righteousness as a coat of mail, and a helmet of salvation upon His head, and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak (Isaiah 59:7).”�Exodus Rabbah 38:8, Soncino Press Edition

1. Mitznefet – Turban - Atoned for Haughtiness

2. Avnet – Sash - Atoned for Lust

3. Ketonet – Tunic – Atoned for Murder (Joseph’s Garment)

4. Michnasayim – Linen Shorts - Atoned for Adultery

5. Tzitz – Crown - Atoned for Brazenness

6. Me’il – Robe - Atoned for Lashon HaRa

7. Choshen Mishpat – Breastplate of Judgment - Atoned for Corruption

8. Efod – Ephod - Atoned for Idolatry

(Zevachim 88b)

“As a bridegroom puts on a priestly diadem” (Isa. 61:10). This text teaches that the Holy One, blessed be he, will put upon Ephraim, our true Messiah, a garment whose splendor will stream forth from world’s end to world’s end; and Israel will make use of his light and say: Blessed is the hour in which He was created! Blessed is the womb whence he came! Blessed is the generation whose eyes behold him! …Blessed are the forebears of the man who merited the goodness of the world, the Messiah, hidden for eternity [-to come].”�Pesikta Rabbati, Piska 37, translated by William Braude, Yale University Press, pg. 689

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.”

Revelation 1:12-13

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son, but when he sent his slaves to summon the invited guests to the wedding, they refused to come. So he sent some more slaves, instructing them to tell the guests, 'Look, I've prepared my banquet, I've slaughtered my bulls and my fattened cattle, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding!' But they weren't interested and went off, one to his farm, another to his business; and the rest grabbed his slaves, mistreated them and killed them. The king was furious and sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burned down their city. . . ”

"Then he said to his slaves, 'Well, the wedding feast is ready; but the ones who were invited didn't deserve it. So go out to the street-corners and invite to the banquet as many as you find.' The slaves went out into the streets, gathered all the people they could find, the bad along with the good; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. "Now when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who wasn't dressed for a wedding; so he asked him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark!' In that place people will wail and grind their teeth, for many are invited, but few are chosen."

Matthew 22:2-14, Complete Jewish Bible

^“Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” …And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:

​

“THIS IS YESHUA THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

​

Matthew 27:35-37

“Besides literal garments, we wear ‘garments of the soul’, which are our thoughts, words, and actions. While literal garments conceal the body, they can also reveal a person’s innermost psyche. Similarly, the garments of thoughts, words, and actions can conceal or reveal our soul.”

Pinson, Dovber. Awakenings: Drawing Life from the Weekly Torah Reading (p. 190). (Function). Kindle Edition.

“Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has prepared herself.” ⁸ It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Revelation 19:7-8

“I will rejoice greatly in the HaShem, My soul will be joyful in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a groom puts on a turban, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10, NASB