Tetzaveh – Garments of Love and Service

The clothing of the Kohen Gadol, the high priest, is a topic we must get into. What is the Job of the KG? First of all, from the title alone we understand that he has a very important role. As we know Aharon, Moshe’s brother, was chosen to be the first one of the highly distinguished individuals who assumed this position, so getting to know him a little better will give us a glimpse in the great service he provided for the entire nation, and even more so, the service he served Hashem.

Aharon was known as a ‘Levi’ in Exodus 4:14, so too is he named a ‘Navi,’ a ‘prophet’ or ‘speaker,’ in Exodus 7:1. A Levi as the name is translated in Genesis 29:34, is a companion or one who accompanies another, while a Navi is one who is an orator, derived from the words ‘Niv Sfatayim’ in the verse in Isaiah 57:19. Being that he had those qualities shows what the person in the position of KG must possess. One who is a companion who has the right words to bring his point across. And as we see in Avot 1:12, Aharon loved and pursued peace. His life was surrounded with these traits of being a Levi and a Navi.

With such qualities it is no wonder that he was chosen to be the one to serve the entire nation by entering the Holiest of Holies on the Holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. The ability to love each and every one of his people so that he can convey their messages to Hashem was one of utmost importance to this job. As we spoke of the life of service we come to acknowledge the greatness of service out of love for the other. As we go about living our lives and being of service for others we see clearly how our will to be there for others is much greater when we are in love with the other. We know how much more we are willing to stretch out our necks for others the closer we are with them. Going into the Kodesh Hakodashim meant being completely surrendered to the cause with no ulterior motives, for those who dared enter risked dying, as we see in Yoma 9a.

So too, as part of his service for his nation he would be the messenger to ask for forgiveness from Hashem. The people would rely on him to be the right person to speak to Hashem on their behalf. His lifestyle was above and beyond the simple Jew; his actions were precise and his thoughts were pure and filtered. The responsibility he carried was more than mere lip service, it was an elevation of his entire essence all for the sake of his people to be able to receive their pardon. With his loving and kind demeanor he wouldn’t just ask for forgiveness, he would pray for them and be their voice as he approached Hashem in the Bedchamber, (Kings 2, 11:2). Forming an eternal and intimate bond with Hashem so that he can use this opportunity for his people as he comes in contact with the Omnipresent, (like Esther.)

But besides for his role as our messenger, he also served Hashem with honor and dignity. The laws of approach and the rules of engagement were strict and challenging, and as described, only with the characteristic of true love was able to rise to this level. It takes true humility being the one who brings joy to the One Above as he sacrifices the animals, sprays the blood, burns incense, and lights the Menorah. Only one filled with grace and peace can be the deliverer of this great gift to our Father in heaven. Hashem describes the sacrifices in Leviticus 1:9 as “My Closeness, My Bread, to My Personal Fire, My Calming Scent.” Imagine being the one responsible to bring breakfast and dinner to the king where the scent matters as much as the sustenance provided, and even more so, being the person that the king wishes to see before he eats. Opening the king’s heart so that every aspect of this meal is cherished and appreciated. Being that servant isn’t just anybody with a bachelor’s degree, it must be someone the king loves intimately.

The clothes the KG wears are symbolic to those ideas and much more. Wearing the Tzitz on his forehead with Hashem’s name inscribed upon it isn’t just a formal costume; it carries weight, as the verse explains in Exodus 28:38. The knowledge of Hashem was constantly imprinted in his mind, keeping the knowledge of Hashem before him so that he never loses focus on Hashem, Who always stands before him. The Ephod, with the stones engraved with the names of Israel and the gold chains from the shoulders to his breastplate were to keep his body in position to perform at the highest level possible. The Choshen drew its life from the heart of the KG, directly connecting it to the source of his beautiful and pure soul.

The life of the Kohen Gadol surely seems like one dedicated and devoted to Hashem. We truly wish that one day, us, simple people will be able to achieve even a sliver of his highness. But as we learned, it all starts with learning how to love and acquiring the skill of communication. We have many relationships in this life, parents, spouses and friends, children, strangers and enemies, as we grow with them we see that what is more important than anything else is the love we have for each other. It is through our acts of service that we provide for them and them for us that brings us closer and forms our connection, and even more so the words we speak and the love we convey through them.

As we learn the art of communication we come to realize how each word we use ignites a flame within the heart of the other. For example, “Imagine a fresh lemon with its citric scent coming close to your nose. See it being sliced as you watch the juices squirt. Raise it to your mouth and feel your tongue start to water.” All we did right now was create the illusion in our imagination, but those words conveyed a message which translated into a physical reaction. Now use the same technique as you speak to your loved ones, pull them in with grace and make their hearts react as your words tease their reality. Learning how to articulate our words and becoming a great orator truly levels every relationship up each time. It’s like a burst of life that we inject as we softly and gently connect with the other.

Now that we don’t have our KG what we do have is our power of prayer. Tefillah is our connection to Hashem as we see in Genesis 30:8. Just as when we speak to Hashem with our words and feel the feelings toward Him, so too, as we learn to understand the words scripted for us by the greats of the past we bring ourselves into the Holiest of Holies three times a day. It is with true love that we learn to speak to Hashem and it is through our words that we will ignite our hearts. Much like the service of the KG, our prayer is one of heart, mind and soul. We can all come to recognize its beauty and splendor, but even more so as we find the love we have always been searching for. With the power of connection we have no more lonely days and no more angst or sadness, for it is all replaced with the everlasting and intimate beauty of Hashem.

David Lemmer is an Orthodox Jewish, Author and Hypnotherapist. He can be reached at LemmerHypno@gmail.com