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Tetzaveh
Exodus 27:20 -
30:10
G-d tells Moses to receive
from the Children of Israel pure olive oil to feed
the "everlasting flame" of the menorah, which Aaron
is to kindle each day, "from evening till morning."
The priestly garments, to be worn by the Kohanim
(priests) while serving in the Sanctuary are
described. All Kohanim wore: 1) the ketonet -- a
full length linen tunic; 2) michnasayim -- linen
breeches; 3) mitznefet or migba'at -- a linen
turban; 4) avnet -- a long sash wound above the
waist.
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In addition, the Kohen Gadol ("high priest") wore:
5) the efod, an apron-like garment made of blue,
purple and red-dyed wool, linen and gold thread; 6)
the choshen, a breastplate containing twelve
precious stones inscribed with the names of the
twelve tribes of Israel; 7) me'il -- a cloak of blue
wool, with gold bells and decorative pomegranates on
its hem; 8) the tzitz -- a golden plate worn on the
forehead bearing the inscription "Holy to G-d".
Tetzaveh also includes G-d's detailed instructions
for the seven-day initiation of Aaron and his four
sons -- Nadav, Avihu, Elazar and Itamar -- into the
priesthood, and for the making of the Golden Altar
on which the ketoret ("incense") was burned.
This being the Shabbat before Purim, on which we
celebrate the foiling of Haman the Amalekite's plot
to destroy the Jewish people, the weekly Parshah is
supplemented with the Zachor reading (Deuteronomy
25:17-19) in which we are commanded to remember the
evil of Amalek and to eradicate it from the face of
the earth. |
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