Another really smooth week over here – everyone’s healthy, the weather has been so good to us, and all is running well and good on the home-front. You know the saying, “When Adar enters, Joy increases.” – Talmudic proverb (Taanit 29a). And what a relief, because it was truly a rough, tough, and l-o-n-g winter. I’m looking forward to baking hamentashen’s with the children this weekend in anticipation for Purim on Tuesday. The kids have off school for the holiday, we’ve already mapped out our costumes, the excitement is building. There’s something really joyous about Adar, like we can finally exhale.
This weeks parsha is another pause on the Sinai sage. While Moses remains on the mountain, we are given further instructions — a continuation of last week’s details for building the Mishkan. But this time, the focus shifts from the structure itself to the garments of the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest: sacred clothing, stones, and responsibility.
A Humbling Thought
I really enjoy the following verse: “Next you shall instruct all who are skillful, whom I have endowed with the gift of skill….(28:3).” I find this line really powerful and quite humbling. God doesn’t just acknowledge peoples skills — He claims authorship of it, “I have endowed them.”
Each of us are born with unique skills and talents, yet how many of us credit our gifts to God, who is the one who gave us our abilities? It makes me think of about the people in my own life — the friends who cook / bake effortlessly, the ones who can build and fix anything, the artists, the musicians, the athletic ones, the organizers (that’s me), the teachers. It’s easy to think that our people are “naturally good at [fill in the blank]”, or you were simply born that way, where in reality, it’s God who has bestowed your gifts.
And maybe the real question isn’t what am I good at? But maybe, it should be, how am I using what I’ve been given?
The Stones on the Breastplate
The High Priest wore a breastplate set with twelve stones, each representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Carnelian, Chrysolite and Emerald
Turquoise, Sapphire, Amethyst
Jacinth, Agate, Crystal
Beryl, Lapis Lazuli, Jasper
Each tribe a bit different, each stone very distinct, all carried over the High Priest’s heart. Which is such a beautiful image to hold, carrying people on your heart.
What Exactly Are Urium and Thummin?
The Torah tells us: “Inside the breast-piece of decision you shall place the Urium and Thummim, so that they are over Aaron’s heart when he comes before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall carry the instrument of decision for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord at all times (28:30).”
When I read this, I too was curious what urium and thummim are. According to Italian scholar Umberto Cassuto, they functioned as the Torah’s response to the ancient divination practices common in all parts of the word. Rather than eliminating the people’s desire for Divine guidance, the Torah simply redirected it. Access to this form of inquiry was limited only to the High Priest, only on behalf of the entire nation. Not for personal gain or private advantage. After the era of King David, their use was discontinued as prophecy became the primary way of receiving Divine will. Such an incredible transition.
Takeaways for the Week
- Joy can be seasonal – and that’s ok!
- Your talents aren’t random, it’s entrusted to you.
- Leadership means carrying others in your heart.