Tetzaveh

In this parsha

The Torah commands Israel to bring pure olive oil for kindling the menorah continually, then turns to the priesthood. It describes in detail the sacred garments of Aaron and his sons, among them the ephod, the breastplate set with twelve tribal stones, the robe, tunic, turban, and the golden headplate. Moses is instructed in the seven-day ceremony that consecrates Aaron and his sons as kohanim, the accompanying offerings, and the daily continual offering. The parsha closes with the golden incense altar.

Themes

• The mitzvah as lamp for the soul
• Pure oil refined through crushing
• Garments refine body, Menorah the soul
• Becoming the mitzvah itself
• Torah's light and the mitzvah's lamp
• Aharon and Israel's inner holiness

Must-read teachings

1. 1The mitzvah's light comes only from HashemIn the Midrash: "And does He [really] need its light?" etc. The Midrash asks rhetorically whether Hashem needs the light of the Menorah — surely not — and the Sefas Emes will draw out what the kindling truly accomplishes. But in any case it…תרל"א
2. 2Like olive oil: pure devotion enables refinementIn the Midrash: Bnei Yisrael are compared to the olive, which does not mix with other liquids — as it is written, "you shall not intermarry with them" (Devarim 7:3) — and even if it does mix, it nevertheless rises to the top — see there. Th…תרל"ה
3. 3Torah's light born from refinementIn the Midrash: "a fresh olive tree…" — they grind it… and bring stones… and place their oil; so too Yisrael… (Midrash on the olive crushed for oil). The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash comparing Bnei Yisrael to the olive, which is crushe…תרל"ז
4. 4Garments refine the body, Menorah the soulConcerning the parsha — the juxtaposition of the oil for the lamp to the bigdei kehunah (the priestly garments). The Sefas Emes asks why the Torah places the command of the oil for the Menorah right next to the priestly garments. We have al…תרמ"ד
5. 5The body as a lamp for the soulIn the Midrash on "And you shall command…" (Shemos 27:20): this is the meaning of the verse, "a mitzvah is a lamp [and Torah is light]" (Mishlei 6:23). The Midrash links the command to kindle the Menorah with the verse "a mitzvah is a lamp.…תרמ"ז
6. 6Ner Mitzvah Versus Torah OrParshas Tetzaveh is dedicated to Aharon HaKohen, the aspect of "ner mitzvah" (the lamp of the mitzvah). The Sefas Emes assigns this parsha, with its focus on Aharon and the menorah, to the quality of "the mitzvah is a lamp." And Moshe Rabbe…תרנ"ו
7. 7Two oils: pure holiness and refined through toilIn the Midrash: "A leafy olive tree…" (Yirmiyah 11:16). The Sefas Emes opens with the navi's image of Yisrael as an olive tree, the source of the oil for the Menorah. Like one who [observes] that in the olive there are two kinds of oil. The…תרנ"א
8. 8Pure oil refined through crushingFurthermore, the Midrash says that Bnei Yisrael are compared to the olive — for only after it is crushed and pressed between stones does it yield its oil; see there. The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash's image: just as an olive gives fort…תרס"א