Audio & Outline Notes for Parashat Tetzaveh

Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus) Exodus 27:20 – 30:10 Haftarah Reading:  Ezekiel 43:10-27
Additional Reading Devarim (Deuteronomy) 25:17-19
The Book of Revelations- Purim 5769/2009

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Outline Notes:

I. Introduction

A. Shemot (Exodus) - The Book of Revelations - The underlying meaning of the oil

B. Parashah Abbreviated Outline

1. 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."
2. 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.
3. 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".
4. 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.
5. 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.

C. The underlying meaning and the relationship between the oil of the menorah and the anointing oil - Shemot 27:20; Esther 2:12

II. Parashat Tetzaveh - The Underlying Meaning of the Oil

A. Basic principles of interpretation

1. Since the Torah is the word of G-d, who is infinite, it is itself infinite. Infinite in time, because it is eternally binding. Infinite in meaning, because every verse has innumerable layers of interpretation and significance. At the literal level (peshat) it contains laws and narratives; at the level of allusion (remez) it points obliquely to the deeper principles of Judaism; homiletically (drush) it outlines the religious ethic of the Jew; and esoterically (sod) it contains the clues to the mysteries of the experience of G-d
2. When G-d told Moses to erect a Sanctuary, He said:

 "And they shall make Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell in them," meaning, in the soul of every Jew. Thus, even though the physical Temple is destroyed, the inward Temple, which each Jew makes within himself, survives, indestructible. And the service, which he conducts in the reaches of his soul, mirrors in every respect the service of the Temple and Sanctuary. So their laws, which appeared at first sight to have no contemporary application, are in fact precise instructions for the inner life of the Jew.

B. The oil for the menorah Shemot 27:20-21

1. The prophet Jeremiah compares the people of Israel to an olive; "A fresh olive, a fruit of beautiful shape did Hashem call your name" (Jeremiah 11:15). 
2. Our sages explain that only the finest quality oil could be used for the seven lamps of the menorah.  Therefore, only the first drop of oil squeezed out of each olive was used for the menorah.
3. Our sages explain the parallel between the olive and the people of Israel as follows:  The olive produces its oil only after being squeezed and pressed. The olive was pressed rather than crushed, because this oil had to be absolutely pure, without olive particles or sediment, which are symbolic of impurity
4. The same with the Jewish people; who, although they have continuously been exiled [squeezed and pressed] from place to place, suffered ill treatment and been squeezed at the hands of other nations, yet, have produced outstanding Torah scholars and great intellectuals in every field.  Mixed with other liquids, oil will eventually separate and rise to the top.  So too, the Jewish people.  No matter how hard the nations have tried to make us assimilate [or destroy us,] the Jewish people have survived as a nation and as a people.
5. The same with believers we are hard pressed but not crushed ... 2Cor.4: 8
6. The oil was the fuel that HaShem ordained to keep the lights of the menorah continually burning The lights of the Menorah represent the Torah, as it is stated, "Torah is light".  The Torah illuminates the darkness of the world and guides a person in the right path. 
7. Just as the seven lights in the Menorah had to be lit every day, so, too, must every Jew/believer light up each of the seven days of the week with the study of Torah, the observance of mitzvot. and to  "pushes away much darkness by illuminating our sphere of influence with the light of [the knowledge of God in the face of the messiah Yeshua.] 2 Cor. 4:6

C.  God raises up Esther with the oil of anointing for such a time as this. Esther 4:14

1. The oil that made her fit to come into the Presence of the King Esther 2:12 cp. Shemot 30:22-25
2. Esther's calling to bring light to a people "who were perishing." Esther 4:14- 16

III. Conclusion

A. A sweet smelling aroma 2 Cor 2:15; Eph 5:12

B. Pressed but not crushed for such a time as this!

C. Purim Sameach!