Tetzaveh 5762

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Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10 )

GOOD MORNING!  Purim is coming up next week, Monday night, February 25th, through all day Tuesday! The Fast of Esther is Monday, February 25th. I was perusing Shimon Apisdorf's The One Hour Purim Primer -- Everything a family needs to understand, celebrate and enjoy Purim (available from your local Jewish book store or by calling toll-free 877-758-3242). One thing that Rabbi Apisdorf wrote, really impacted me: If a family is a "twice a year to synagogue" family, then he "votes for Purim and Simchas Torah (when everyone dances around celebrating the completion and beginning of reading the Torah)." Our kids should see and be a part of the joy of being Jewish!


Each and every one of us want our children to have the same values and appreciations that we have. And often we are surprised that they don't. Unless one provides experiences and talks about the things that gave you your appreciations, your kids will have different experiences and discussions ... and quite possibly different values. You cannot legislate values or appreciation for Judaism. You CAN give positive Jewish experiences -- like Purim! -- and your kids will have something to love about being Jewish!


Q & A: WHAT IS PURIM AND HOW DO WE CELEBRATE IT?


Purim comes from the word "pur" in Persian which means "lots" -- as in, "Haman cast lots for the most 'auspicious' date to kill the Jews." The date fell out on the 13th of Adar. The events of that date were turned around from a day of destruction to a day of victory and joy. We celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar for "they gained relief on the fourteenth, which they made a day of feasting and gladness" (Megillat Esther 9:17).

(In very few places -- most notably in Jerusalem -- Purim is celebrated the following day, the 15th day of Adar. The Sages declared that all cities which were walled cities at the time of Joshua should celebrate Purim the following day. This is to commemorate the extra day which King Ahashverosh granted Esther to allow the Jews of Shushan [the capital of Persia, which, by the way, was a walled city] to deal with their enemies. In Shushan they gained relief on the fifteenth. The holiday is called Shushan Purim in those locales.)

There are two ways in which to try to destroy the Jewish people -- physically and spiritually. Our enemies have attempted both. Chanukah is the celebration over those who have tried and failed to culturally assimilate us (the Greeks and Western Culture); Purim is the celebration over those who have tried and failed to physically destroy us (the Persians, ad nauseam).

Why do we masquerade with costumes and masks on Purim? Nowhere in the Megillat Esther is God's name mentioned. If one so desires, he can see the whole Purim story as a chain of coincidences totally devoid of Divine Providence. Just as we hide behind masks, but our essence is still there, so too God has "hidden His face" behind the forces of history, but is still there guiding history. Why do we make noise every time Haman's name is mentioned in the Megillah? The answer: Haman was an Amalekite, from that people which embodies evil and which the Torah commands us to obliterate. By blotting out Haman's name we are symbolically wiping out the Amalekites and evil.

The holiday is celebrated by hearing the Megillah Monday night and Tuesday morning. During the day only, we fulfill three Mitzvot: (1) Matanot L'evyonim -- giving gifts or money to at least two poor people. (2) Mishloach Manot, the "sending of portions," giving at least two ready-to-eat foods to a minimum of one person. One should send via a messenger. (You can order Kosher Purim baskets from: White's Candies Tel. (305) 865-0433 or http://florists.ftd.com/surf) and 3) Seudah, a festive meal.

During the meal we are commanded to drink wine until we don't know the difference between "Blessed is Mordechai" and "Cursed is Haman." (It can also be fulfilled by drinking a little and taking a nap -- one doesn't know the difference between them while sleeping...) Why are we instructed to drink this amount?

In a certain sense, Purim is greater than Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur we fast and it is easy for our soul to have dominance over the body. Purim is the epitome of integrating the physical and the spiritual towards realizing that the Almighty loves us. The only thing that stands between you and the Almighty -- is you. The wine and the spirit of the day help us get beyond the barrier -- to realize that everything comes from the Almighty and is ultimately for our good!

The Mitzvot of Mishloach Manot and giving gifts to the poor were prescribed to generate brotherly love between all Jews. When there is love and unity amongst us, our enemies cannot harm us!


Torah
Portion of the Week

Tetzaveh

The Torah continues this week with the command to make for use in the Mishkan, the Portable Sanctuary -- oil for the Menorah and clothes for the Cohanim, the Priests. It then gives instruction for the consecration of the Cohanim and the Outer Altar. The portion concludes with instructions for constructing the Incense Altar.

 

Dvar Torah
based on Growth Through Torah by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

The Torah states, "Make a forehead plate of pure gold, and engrave on it in the same manner as a signet ring, (the words), 'Holy to God'. Attach a twist of sky-blue wool to it, so that it can be (worn) right near the front of the turban."

Each of the garments of the Cohanim, the Priests who served in the Mishkan, had a spiritual correspondence and influence. The turban, which is on top of the head, atoned for arrogance and conceit. There is, however, a time for pride -- when a person is proud to do the will of the Almighty. The Ksav Sofer, a great rabbi, commented that this is alluded to in our verse. When pride is "holy to the Almighty" then it can be on top of a person's head.

Arrogance is a trait that is detrimental to one's spiritual development and causes many difficulties when dealing with other people. However, when you are proud of fulfilling the Torah commandments, you will continue to do so even if others will mock or insult you.


PIRKEI AVOT 1:7


"... Distance yourself from a bad neighbor, don't associate with evil people, don't lose faith in Divine retribution" -- Nitai the Arbelite

CANDLE LIGHTING - February 22:
(or go to http://aish.com/candlelighting)

Jerusalem  4:54
Guatemala 5:50  Hong Kong 5:58  Honolulu 6:15
J'Burg 6:27  London 5:10  Los Angeles 5:25
Melbourne 7:53  Miami 6:01  Moscow 5:30

New York 5:21  Singapore  7:03



QUOTE OF THE WEEK:


Happiness is ...
joy digesting.

Happy 24th Anniversary
Kalman & Shoshana Packouz
Love,
Ray & Dorothy Packouz

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