Two Minute Torah Podcast

Tetzaveh (Shabbat Zakhor) 5769 by Robert D. Festenstein

Shalom, my name is Rob Festenstein, Administrator of Adath Israel Congregation in Cincinnati, Ohio. Welcome to Koach’s Two Minute Torah, a project of the College Department of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. This week, Jews around the world will read Parashat Tetzaveh. This parashah is the 8th of the 11 parshiyot in the Book of Moses and the 20th parashah after the observance of Simhat Torah. Translated to English, Tetzaveh means “you command.” As this parashah falls on the Shabbat before Purim, we also observe what is known as Shabbat Zakhor, or the “Shabbat of Remembrance.” This special designation comes from the fact that the text of the parashah commands us to remember what Amalek did to the Israelites as they left Mitzrayim. We are commanded to do this just before Purim in the hopes that when we read the Megillah a few days later and talk of doing away with Haman, that we also might also do away with Amalek. As we marshal our spiritual energy toward doing away with one source of evil, why not do it for another? This parashah also begins to set the mood and framework for Passover and the theme of freedom, which comes several weeks later on the Jewish calendar. Other themes of equal importance mentioned in the parsha include: the instructions that G-d gives to Moses in the form of the required sacral vestments for Aaron, and very detailed instructions for an ordination ceremony for priests that involves sacrificing animals, unleavened bread, unleavened cakes, and unleavened wafers. In other words, God is updating the manual for policies and procedures for the kohanim, and again starts to give us a taste of what is to come with Passover. It is interesting that like the Shabbatot before Rosh Hashanah that are meant to set the mood for this hag, we also use that same practice before our spring festivals. All in all, this is a most interesting parashah of particular significance at this time of the year. Let us use this as a reminder to remember all of the times that we have come together as a people to overcome the forces of evil.