This Shabbat, I’d like to share an idea on the Parsha that I learned from
the writings of Pinchas Peli. Pinchas Peli lived from 1930 to his
untimely death at the age of 59 from cancer in 1989. He was an Israeli
modern Orthodox Rabbi, essayist, poet, and scholar of Judaism and
Jewish philosophy
He was Professor of Jewish Thought and Literature at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a visiting professor at Yeshiva University, Cornell University, Notre Dame University, the Seminario Rabbinico in Argentina, and the Makuya Bible Seminary in Japan.
For many years, he served as the Torah Commentator for the Jerusalem Post. He is a highly respected commentator on the weekly Torah portion.
A very deep Jewish Talmudic scholar, I often read his writings as I agree with his stance on Jewish life in Israel.
Peli opposed efforts to impose greater religious control over life in Israel. He told an interviewer in 1986, “I think for the sake of religion and for the sake of Israel there must be a separation between state and religion.”
One of the biggest problems in the State of Israel is the large gap
between the (Dati Jews) Orthodox and the (Lo Dati Jews) Secular Jews
who live in Israel.
Though an Orthodox thinker, he was always very respectful to the
Conservative Rabbis of his generation. He engaged with such luminous
Conservative Rabbis as Abraham Joshua Heschel and was collegial with
the longtime Chancelor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi
Louis Finkelstein.
In his book called “Torah Today”, he writes that more than forty verses
of the Torah are devoted to elaboration of the command given to Moses
in this week’s Parsha, Tetzaveh, to “make holy garments (or garments of
holiness) for Aaron, Thy brother, for splendor and for beauty” (Exodus
28:2).
So he asks:” What was so important about the garments of the High
Priest? Does not Judaism usually concentrate on the inner quality of life,
frowning on such external manifestations as clothing? What do splendor
and beauty have in common with ‘garments of holiness’”?
These obvious questions engaged the minds of some of the classic Torah
commentators.
Some, like Nachmanides, a 13th Century Commentator who lived most
of his life in Spain, tend to derive from here that this is precisely the
lesson the Torah wants to teach us- that clothing does, or at least helps,
make the person,… that “splendor and beauty” are indeed an integral
part of the “holy” and add much to the honor and esteem of the person
who is to represent it in public office.
Just as the crown and other royal vestments command the respect of the
people for their King, so do the high Priest’s exquisite garments enhance
his position among his people.
Peli points out that clothing is associated in the Bible with some of the
earliest signs of human civilization. Adam and Eve, when “their eyes
were opened” after tasting from the forbidden fruit of knowledge,
became afraid and ashamed of their nakedness (Genesis 1:24).
The first thing G-d does for humans on their introduction to civilization
is NOT to build them a home or teach them to fashion tools, but “the
Lord G-d made for Adam and his wife coats of skin and clothed them
(Gen 3:20).
Rabbi Yochanan (a leading third century Rabbi) described clothes as
“dignifiers”, instrumental in endowing dignity to humans.
How many of us recall recently the hubbub created by how Senator John
Fetterman from Pennsylvania dressed? It created such an uproar that for
many, his casual dress, lowered the bar on the dignity of the entire
Senate chamber.
So, I think it’s safe to say, that when our Parsha talks about wearing
specific clothes, it is trying to teach something for every generation to
adhere to.
One of the interesting lessons I gleaned from Peli’s ideas is in regards to
the Ephod, the rather large apron worn by the High Priest. The
description of the making of the Ephod and its attached breastplate,
takes up no less than 30 verses (28:6-35)
On the two stones which were part of the Ephod were the names of the
tribes of Israel, “the names of six tribes on one stone and the names of
the remaining six tribes on the other, in order of their birth” (28:9). The
names were inscribed there so that “Aaron shall bear their names before
the Lord upon his shoulders as a remembrance” (28:12).
Later on we reed (read) (28:29): “And Aaron shall bear the names of the
children of Israel…upon his heart when he goes into the holy place, for a
remembrance before the Lord continually”.
It seems that the design of the Ephod and the breastplate is meant to
teach us a most important lesson about responsible leadership. And
here’s why all of this detail is important enough that it was included in
the Torah:
There are many leaders, who after they are elected or chosen for high
office swiftly forget the people whom they are supposed to represent.
The names of the 12 tribes of Israel were to be carried on the
“shoulders” of Aaron, so that he should never forget the burden of their
needs and always remember that he was not carried on their shoulders,
for him to enjoy the good life of the people in high office- but that they
must constantly be carried on his shoulders, to care for their needs and to
be a loyal spokesman for them.
Furthermore, while carrying the burden of his mission on his shoulders
was a must, it was not enough for a true leader… of which Aaron has
become an everlasting model.
He must not only carry on his shoulders that which is within his line of
duty but must also fill his heart with love and compassion for each and
every one of his people.
That’s why the Torah states: “And Aaron shall bear the names of the
children of Israel…upon his heart when he goes into the holy place for a
remembrance before the Lord continually”.
So, my friends, Rabbi Peli teaches us that from Aaron, the first High
Priest of Israel, we learn that a true and sincere leader carries the needs
of his people on his shoulders and… inscribes them on his heart.
My dear friends, we Americans are soon to be asked to make decisions
about who will be our leaders.
Let’s put the Torah into our decision making.
Let’s make our decisions based on whom we think will put our people
on his or her shoulders and keep us physically safe and, more
importantly, which prospective leader, like Aaron in ancient times, will
truly fill their heart with love and compassion…for each and every one
of us.
May G-d help us make a wise decision.
Shabbat Shalom