RABBI DAVID ETENGOFF: PARASHAT HASHAVUAH
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • Sefer Bereishit 5782&5783
  • Sefer Shemot 5782&5783
  • Sefer Vayikra 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5782&5783
  • Sefer Devarim 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bereishit 5780& 5781
  • Sefer Shemot 5780&5781
  • Sefer Vayikra 5780&5781
  • Sefer Bamidbar 578&5781
  • Sefer Devarim 578&5781
  • Sefer Bereishit 5778&5779
  • Sefer Shemot 5778&5779
  • Sefer Vayikra 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5778&5779
  • Sefer Devarim 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bereishit 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bereishit 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bereishit 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bereishit 5771&5770
  • Sefer Shemot 5776&5777
  • Sefer Shemot 5774&5775
  • Sefer Shemot 5772&5773
  • Sefer Shemot 5771&5770
  • Sefer Vayikra 5776&5777
  • Sefer Vayikra 5774&5775
  • Sefer Vayikra 5772&5773
  • Sefer Vayikra 5771&5770
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5771&5770
  • Sefer Devarim 5776&5777
  • Sefer Devarim 5774&5775
  • Sefer Devarim 5772&5773
  • Sefer Devarim 5771&5770

2/14/2016

Parashat Tetzaveh 5776, 2016: "The Eternal Message of the Urim and Thumim"

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture

 
Rabbi David Etengoff
 
Dedicated to the sacred memories of my mother, Miriam Tovah bat Aharon Hakohen, father-in-law, Levi ben Yitzhak, sister-in-law, Ruchama Rivka Sondra bat Yechiel, sister, Shulamit bat Menachem, Chaim Mordechai Hakohen ben Natan Yitzchak, Yehonatan Binyamin ben Mordechai Meir Halevi, Avraham Yechezkel ben Yaakov Halevy, HaRav Yosef Shemuel ben HaRav Reuven Aharon, David ben Elazar Yehoshua, the refuah shlaimah of Devorah bat Chana, and Yitzhak Akiva ben Malka, and the safety of our brothers and sisters in Israel and around the world.
 
The second Beit Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was destroyed over 1900 years ago. Thereafter, with prophetic insight, Chazal (Our Sages of blessed memory) established the blessing of Boneh Yerushalayim  (Rebuild Jerusalem) in the Shemoneh Esrei (the Silent Prayer). This enactment had a very direct purpose, namely, to maintain strong and everlasting feelings in our hearts for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. This theme is repeated, as well, in the Birkat Hamazon (Grace after Meals) with the selfsame goal in mind. In sum, we must never forget the past glory of the Beit Hamikdash in order that we may long for its imminent rebuilding.
 
Beyond question, Chazal did their best to keep the anticipation of a soon-to-be rebuilt Beit Hamikdash alive in the hearts and minds of our people. Yet, even with these daily reminders, many Jews feel distant from the parshiot in the Torah that deal with the construction of the Mishkan (the Portable Desert Sanctuary), the specifics of the Bigdei Kahunah (special garments of the Kohanim), and the extensive details of the Korbanot (offerings in the Holy Temple). For many, these topics remain closed books that at one and the same time appear to be distant from their lives and beyond understanding. Indeed, as early as the 12th century, the Rambam (1135-1204) decried the widespread lack of attention to the study of the Korbanot, and hence, ignorance of this subject matter, in his time:

The subject of the Korbanot, because of our ever-growing number of sins, has already been abandoned. No one even bothers to study their laws except for a very small minority of people. Moreover, their subject matter is virtually ignored as a topic of study (v’ain inyanav nizkarim techufot lifnei ha’adam) – which would have allowed them to be remembered – even though one has already seen them. In addition, no one reviews them since there is no practical reason to do so. Moreover, no one bothers to ask questions regarding any aspect of this subject. As a result, the Torah scholar and the ignoramus are equal in their ignorance of these laws. Then, too, the majority of Torah students know nothing about the Korbanot – even in regards to that which is explicitly stated in the many verses of the Torah. (Introduction to Tractate Zevachim, translation my own).
 
In the early part of the last century, the great Torah sage, Rav Yisrael Meir Hakohen, known as the “Chafetz Chaim,” (1838-1933) echoed the Rambam’s words in the introduction to his work, Torah Ohr:

We see, as a result of our many sins, that the study of this entire Order of the Mishnah [i.e. Kodashim] is completely ignored. It is nearly impossible to find anyone who studies it. Even someone who studies it does not view it with any depth (except for one in a thousand from the most select of the generation). Moreover, even someone who studies the entire Talmud on a page-by-page basis does not apply himself to the depths of his cognitive abilities to know the subject matter and halachic decisions with true clarity. Instead, such an individual is satisfied with a passing knowledge of this material, as if he were merely reading Parashat Hakorbanot. (Translation my own)
 
It is clear from the writings of these Torah giants that these laws need to become a focus of study, and returned to their former glory – not by the few, but by all of Klal Yisrael (the Jewish People).
 
With the above thoughts in mind, I would like to analyze the Urim and Thumim that were placed in the Choshen Hamishpat (Decision Breastplate). Our parasha devotes no less than 15 pasukim (verses) to an intricate and extensive description of the Choshen Hamishpat (Sefer Shemot 28:15-29). At the conclusion of this passage, the Torah commands the Kohen Gadol to wear this garment as a permanent remembrance before G-d: “Aaron will thus carry the names of Israel's sons on the Decision Breastplate over his heart when he comes into the sanctuary. It shall be a constant remembrance before
G-d.” (Sefer Shemot 28:29, this and all Torah translations, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, The Living Torah) The Urim and Thumim are placed into the Chosen Hamishpat to render judgment: “Place the Urim and Thumim in the Decision Breastplate, and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he comes before G-d. Aaron will then carry the decision-making device for the Israelites before G-d at all times.” (Ibid., 28:30)
 
While there are a variety of opinions as to how to understand what the Urim and Thumim were, two parallel Talmudic passages clarify their purpose:

It was taught in a baraita: “Why were they named Urim and Thumim?” “Urim,” [from the Hebrew ohr, light] because they enlightened the Jewish people. “Thumim,” because they helped perfect the path before the Jewish people. This means that when the Jewish people were perfect and complete (temimin) they would show the Jewish people the [correct] path [upon which to tread]. (Talmud Yerushalmi, Yoma 7:3, translation my own)
 
It was taught in a baraita: “Why were they named Urim and Thumim?” “Urim,” since they enlightened their words, “Thumim,” since they completed [i.e. perfected] their words. (Talmud Bavli, Yoma 73b, translation my own)
 
Rabbi Baruch Halevi Epstein (1860-1941), in his trail-blazing Torah commentary, Torah Temimah, explained these Talmudic portions by noting that a reciprocal relationship obtained between G-d and the Jewish people pertaining to the accuracy of the information revealed by the Urim and Thumim. When we acted with wholeheartedness in our relationship with G-d, the answers we would receive were absolutely true. When we failed to do so, however, the responses we received from the Urim and Thumim were incomplete. As such, the Urim and Thumim effectively shaped our behavior:

This means that [the Urim and Thumim] taught the Jewish people to be pure in their behaviors and ethical characteristics. Absent this quality, the answer that we would receive from the Urim and Thumim would lack clarity and precision.
 
Unfortunately, we live at a time in Jewish history that is devoid of the Beit Hamikdash, Korbanot, Bigdei Kahunah, and all the glory that they entailed. Nonetheless, I believe that the Urim and Thumim can still serve as our guide, albeit, in their absence. In my estimation, they continue to teach us a vital message for our time, namely, the obligation to undertake and perform all mitzvot and ma’asim tovim (laudatory acts) truly l’shame shamayim – with wholehearted intent to serve G-d and bring honor to His name. As Antignos taught us in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) so long ago:

Antignos the man from Socho … was known for saying: “Do not be like the servants who minister to their master on the condition that they will receive a reward. Instead, be like those servants who serve their master without the expectation of receiving a reward. And may the awe of Heaven be upon you.” (1:3, translation my own)
 
May Hashem give us the wisdom and spiritual strength to live righteous lives dedicated to honoring and sanctifying His name through our words and deeds. Moreover, may our generation witness the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) and the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash soon and in our days. V’chane yihi ratzon.
 
Shabbat Shalom
Past drashot may be found at my blog-website: http://reparashathashavuah.org
They may also be found on YUTorah.org using the search criteria of Etengoff and the parasha’s name.

The email list, b’chasdei Hashem, has expanded to hundreds of people. I am always happy to add more members to the list. If you have family or friends you would like to have added, please do not hesitate to contact me via email rdbe718@gmail.com.

*** My audio shiurim for Women on “Tefilah: Haskafah and Analysis,” may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/8hsdpyd

*** I have posted 164 of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s English language audio shiurim (MP3 format) spanning the years 1958-1984. Please click on the highlighted link.
 


Share

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Author

    Talmid of Rabbi Soloveitchik zatzal

    Categories

    All
    Parashat Hashavuah

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog: Rabbi David Etengoff: Parashat HaShavuah
  • Sefer Bereishit 5782&5783
  • Sefer Shemot 5782&5783
  • Sefer Vayikra 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5782&5783
  • Sefer Devarim 5782&5783
  • Sefer Bereishit 5780& 5781
  • Sefer Shemot 5780&5781
  • Sefer Vayikra 5780&5781
  • Sefer Bamidbar 578&5781
  • Sefer Devarim 578&5781
  • Sefer Bereishit 5778&5779
  • Sefer Shemot 5778&5779
  • Sefer Vayikra 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5778&5779
  • Sefer Devarim 5778&5779
  • Sefer Bereishit 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bereishit 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bereishit 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bereishit 5771&5770
  • Sefer Shemot 5776&5777
  • Sefer Shemot 5774&5775
  • Sefer Shemot 5772&5773
  • Sefer Shemot 5771&5770
  • Sefer Vayikra 5776&5777
  • Sefer Vayikra 5774&5775
  • Sefer Vayikra 5772&5773
  • Sefer Vayikra 5771&5770
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5776&5777
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5774&5775
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5772&5773
  • Sefer Bamidbar 5771&5770
  • Sefer Devarim 5776&5777
  • Sefer Devarim 5774&5775
  • Sefer Devarim 5772&5773
  • Sefer Devarim 5771&5770