Two Minute Torah Podcast

Tetzaveh 5773 by Rebecca Kossman

Parshat tetzaveh gives us many instructions about the priesthood - mostly about how they should dress and light the menorah and incense.

At first I wasn't sure how this parsha connected to us, but then I read something interesting about the opening verse. The opening verse of this parshat is "v'atah tetzaveh et b'nei yisrael v'yikchu eilecha shemen zayit zach katit la'amor l'ha'alot ner tamid."

Literally here the word tetzaveh means to command - as in Moshe should command the people of Israel to bring him pure olive oil - curshed for lighting the eternal light.

The word tetzaveh, however, is also related to a word that means connections. In this way Moshe is being told to connect the Jewish people by having them bring oil for the ner tamid. Going with this interpretation, G-d is emphasizing Moshe's role as the link between G-d and the Jewish people by being an effective leader.

In the Zohar it says that leaders like Moshe are "like the extension of Moshe in every generation." Just like the oil has to be crushed and ready for lighting the ner tamid, these leaders can help those that they are leading to be "spiratually awake and illuminated."

I think this can connect to us in that many of us have experience being leaders in our Jewish communities - whether it be as camp counselors, Hebrew school teachers, minyan leaders, or campus board members we can take our experience and bring it to others to strengthen all of our connections with G-d and the Jewish people.