The Torah as a WitnessWhen Moshe completed writing the Torah down until the end, he told the Levites to take the Torah and place it next to* the Aron HaKodesh and that the Torah will serve as a witness.*There are two opinions brought in Bava Basra (14b) as to what is meant by “next to” the Aron. According to one opinion, there was a board protruding from the Aron and this is where the Torah was placed. According to the second opinion, the Torah was placed inside of the Aron against the inside wall, next to the two tablets.Moshe says this witness is necessary as he knows about the rebellious tendencies of the Israelites – they have rebelled against G-d while Moshe was alive so he knows they will continue to do so after he passes away.Moshe asks for all of the tribe elders and officers to be brought to him so he can tell them all of this and that he will call upon heaven and earth as a witness.Usually trumpets would be blown for such an assembly however Moshe was the one who made the trumpets and he did not give Yehoshua the authority to use them while Moshe was alive, and G-d hid them on that day as it was the day before Moshe was to pass away, fulfilling what is stated in Eicha 8:8, that “there is no ruling on the day of death”.Earlier (see yesterday’s portion), G-d had told the Israelites that he would call upon the heavens and the earth to bear witness to this song. Now G-d calls out to the heavens and earth for this purpose.Moshe says that he knows that after he passes away*, the Israelites will go against the ways he had commanded them, resulting in bad things happening to them because their actions will provoke G-d’s anger.*In fact, the Jews did not rebel during the times of Yehoshua after Moshe had passed away. It was only after Yehoshua passed away that they began rebelling. Thus when Moshe spoke about his own passing, he really meant the passing of Yehoshua, teaching us that one’s student is as dear to him as his own self.Moshe then proceeded to recite the song to the entire congregation of Israel (see next week’s parsha). Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
The Israelites Will Rebel. Moshe’s Message to Yehusohua. Moshe Completes Writing Down the TorahThe Israelites Will RebelG-d predicts that after He brings the Israelites to the Land of Israel and they live off of the land’s produce, the Jews will worship other gods and provoke G-d to anger for violating His covenant.G-d goes on to say that when the Israelites experience bad things, the song which Moshe will sing to them will serve as a reminder to them that they had been warned that this would happen if they were to transgress His covenant. In saying that it will serve as a reminder, this is also a promise that the Torah will never be totally forgotten by their descendants.Moshe wrote this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.Moshe’s Message to YehoshuaMoshe tells Yehoshua to be strong and courageous as he is to take the Israelites into the land which Moshe swore to them and Moshe will be with him.Moshe Completes Writing Down the Torah Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
G-d Message During Moshe’s Final DaysG-d tells Moshe that his final days are approaching and that he should call upon Yehoshua to stand in the Ohel Moed and He will urge him on.So Moshe and Yehoshua stand in the Ohel Moed and G-d appears in a pillar of cloud at the entrance of the tent.G-d tells Moshe that he is about to die and warns that the Israelites will worship the false deities of the other nations within the land of Israel, thereby forsaking G-d.G-d continues on to say that he will be angry with them at that time and will abandon the nation and hide His face (as though He isn’t aware of their suffering) on account of their idolatrous behavior and they will fall upon much misfortune and will feel as though G-d is no longer with them.G-d then tells Moshe to write the song הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם (Begins on Devarim 32:1) and to place it in the mouths of the nation for it to bear witness to them. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Every Seven YearsAfter discussing how we should not fear nor be discouraged, Moshe wrote down the Torah and upon completion, he gave it to the tribe of Levi (his tribe) and told them that every seven years on Sukkos (i.e at the start of the eighth year following the end of the Shmitta (seventh) year, at the end of every Shmitta cycle (i.e. seven years) on Sukkos, the king of Israel would sit up on a wooden platform in the courtyard of the Temple and read the book of Devarim to the nation.Everyone is to congregate for this. The men to learn the Torah being read, the women to be there and listen, the children (to reward those who brought them) and converts so that they come to fear G-d and keep His Torah.And the children of this nation will hear and will learn to fear G-d during the time they reside in the land of Israel. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Be Strong and CourageousMoshe tells them that G-d will destroy the other nations like he did the Amorite kings Sichon and Og and that when He does so, they are to act towards the nations in the way which G-d had commanded.Moshe concludes this aliya telling them to be strong and courageous. To not fear the other nations because G-d will go with them and will not fail nor abandon them. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Do Not FearIn the presence of the nation of Israel, Moshe told Yehoshua to “be strong and courageous” as he is responsible for bringing the Israelites into the Land, even if it’s against their will and he is to portion out the land to them in accordance with their inheritance.Moshe continues by saying that G-d goes before him and will be with him. He will not fail nor leave him so he should not fear nor be discouraged. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Moshe’s Last DayMoshe passed away on the seventh of Adar, which was also his birthday, alluding to him having had a complete life.On the day of Moshe’s passing, his powers were just as strong as before, however his authority was taken away from him and his powers of transmission closed off from him.Moshe told them on that day that he was 120 years old and not permitted to continue into the land with them.He reassures them that G-d and Yehoshua will cross the Jordan river before them to lead them there and that G-d will destroy the nations they are to encounter in the land so the Israelites can take possession of it. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Choose LifeMoshe relays that he has today set before them “life and good” and “death and evil”. Juxtaposing these things is in order to illustrate that doing good grants one life, while doing evil grants one death. This works as follows:The “good” refers to loving G-d, walking in His ways and observing His commandments, statues and ordinances. Doing so will cause them to “live and increase” and G-d will bless them in the land of Israel.The “evil” refers to them not listening and bowing down to and serving other gods. If they do this, they will not live long in Israel.Moshe says that he calls upon the heaven and earth that day as witnesses to all of this, as they are eternal and thus will bear witness when evil comes upon them. An alternate explanation to Moshe calling upon the heaven and earth as witnesses, is to demonstrate that the heaven and earth obediently act as G-d wills them to despite not receiving reward or punishment for this, so all the more so should the Israelites who do receive reward and punishment obey G-d.Moshe beseeches them that in spite of the fact that they have free choice, they are to choose life. Rashi explains that this is like a man who tells his son to choose a nice portion of his estate and then shows him the best portion and tells him to choose that one.Living in the land that G-d promised to their forefathers is their life, which they are choosing when they obey G-d. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Curses on Israel’s Enemies. Return to G-d.Moshe prophecies that G-d will put all of the curses on the Israelites’ enemies and those who chase after them, that the Israelites will return to listening and obeying G-d’s commandments and that G-d will make their work produce abundance for them.When they obey G-d and return to Him with their full heart and soul, G-d will celebrate over them the way he did over their ancestors, Moshe says. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Curses on Israel’s Enemies. Return to G-d.Moshe prophecies that G-d will put all of the curses on the Israelites’ enemies and those who chase after them, that the Israelites will return to listening and obeying G-d’s commandments and that G-d will make their work produce abundance for them.When they obey G-d and return to Him with their full heart and soul, G-d will celebrate over them the way he did over their ancestors, Moshe says. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
IngatheringMoshe prophecies to the Israelites that after the blessings and curses previously spoken of come to pass, and they contemplate it all and subsequently return to G-d fully in heart and soul and obey Him, G-d will have mercy on them and gather all of the Israelites who will have been scattered around the world, even from the “end of the heaven” and return them to their Land. This ingathering will be such a monumental and difficult procedure that it will be as though G-d is taking each individual Jew out of exile with His hands.Once returned to the Land of Israel, this later generation of Israelites will re-possess the Land and G-d will make them more numerous than their ancestors.And G-d will circumcise their and their progeny’s hearts so they may love G-d with all their heart and soul. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Reminders and Collective ResponsibilityG-d says that they must vow not to practice idolatry since they may feel tempted to after living in Egypt and having seen other nations do so. Whether they were idols of wood and stone which they kept out in public as they did not fear that anyone would steal them, or of gold and silver which they kept hidden away for fear that these would be stolen.Moshe now warns that if there is someone among them who practices idolatry or makes or adds evil, who upon hearing G-d’s vow to them, thinks to himself that he can still have peace even if continues to do what he wants and disregard G-d’s Will, such a person will not be forgiven by G-d. Rather G-d’s anger will cause his body to flame up and have fumes come out of his nose and will be subject to all of the curses mentioned earlier and G-d will delete his name from the world.And in the future, their progeny as well as future converts will see the plagues in the land and diseases and liken it to the downfall of Sodom, Gemorrah, Admah and Zeboiim which G-d upended out of His anger. And this later generation will understand that this is an expression of G-d’s anger for abandoning their covenant with Him by serving other gods that G-d did not designate for them. And out of anger G-d threw them out from the Land.These punishments that Moshe warns will be inflicted upon the entire nation is only for the sin of a few.Rashi comments upon how this teaches that the entire nation is responsible for the sins of even a few people. However this only became so after they crossed the Jordan River after having accepted the oath at Mount Gerizin and Mount Ebal where they accepted this collective responsibility. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Exclusive RelationshipIn exchange for G-d going to the trouble of being so exclusionary about Israel, vowing to the patriarchs that He would not exchange them with another nation, He expects them to be faithful to Him in kind.Rashi explains here that this Parsha of Nitzavim comes right after that of Ki Tavo as when the Israelites heard the 98 curses written in Ki Tavo, they feared it would be too much for them to handle. Thus Moshe calmed them down with what is written here in Nitzavim that in spite of having angered G-d many times, He has not destroyed them and that in fact the curses and suffering are what allow them to stay standing before Him. The curses do so by deterring them from sinning and the suffering by cleansing them of sins.Moshe tells them that G-d is saying that He is including all future generations of Jews in the covenant, not only those who were physically there that day. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Receiving the CovenantOn the day of his death, Moshe brought the entire nation together in the presence of G-d to enter them into a covenant with Him. The text details the various factions of the nation he gathered in descending order of importance: The leader of the tribes, the elders, the officers, the other men, the young children, the women, the converts and finally the woodcutters and water drawers. These woodcutters and water drawers are listed at the end and separately as these were the Canaanites who pretended that they wanted to convert to Judaism during Moshe’s time however Moshe was on to them so in failing to trust them, he made them into woodcutters and water drawers. The same thing happened later in Yehoshua ’s time with the Gibeonites who similarly pretended to want to convert to Judaism though Yehoshua didn’t trust them and similarly made them into woodcutters and water drawers.Moshe made the nation stand in ranks, as a way to encourage them in transitioning from him to another leader (Yehoshua). Yehoshua acted similarly before his death as did Shmuel the prophet when his leadership was about to be passed to Saul.The way covenants were set up is that there would be demarcations set up on two sides and those parties to the covenant would pass through it. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.com2 Lambs. The Ohel MoedTwo lambs in their first year should be sacrificed daily - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.The Morning LambTogether with the first (morning)lamb, 1/10 of an ephah* of fine flour should be mixed with 1/4 of a hin of crushed olive oil and 1/4 of a hin** of wine***.*Side note: This equals to the volume of 43 1/5 eggs. One ephah is equivalent to 72 logs or approx 22 liters (one log is approx 0.3 liters) so this would be about 2.2 liters.**Side note: One hin is equivalent to 12 logs, or approx 3.6 liters, so 1/4 of one hin equals to 3 logs, or approx 0.9 liters***Side note: This wine was poured as a libation into 2 silver basins which were hollow at their bottoms (like nostrils) which were situated on top of the altar and would flow from them to the roof of the altar and then through the holes in the altar to the foundations of the copper altar and then to the ground.The Afternoon LambThe afternoon lamb, like the meal offering, should be burnt in its entirety, thus serving as a "pleasing fragrance (or spirit)" ( רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֔חַ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לה׳) for G-d. It should also have a wine libation. This offering should be sacrificed at the entrance to the Ohel Moed.Where G-d Dwells and CommunicatesIt is at this area of the entrance to the Ohel Moed that G-d communicated with the Israelites and Moshe (there are different opinions regarding where exactly in this area, i.e. from above the copper altar or above the ark cover). It is in this area that the Divine Presence would rest.G-d then says that He will sanctify the Ohel Moed, the altar, Aaron and Aaron's sons, for the sake of the service to Him and that He will dwell amongst the Israelites and be their G-d and they will know that He is G-d who took them out of Egypt. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Incense AltarG-d now gives instructions on making the altar for burning incense. He says that it should be made out of Shittim wood.It should be square shaped, 1 cubit long x 1 cubit wide and 2 cubits high with horns emerging from it. It should be covered in gold and it should have a golden crown, symbolizing the crown of the priesthood (kehuna).On either side of the altar, under the crown, at two opposing corners, they should make golden rings.They should make two poles out of shittim wood and covered in gold. These poles should go through the above mentioned rings.This altar should be placed right outside of the Holy of Holies, i.e. in front of the curtain that covers the Ohel Moed.Aaron is to burn incense on this altar every morning, while cleaning the lamps from the ashes of the wicks that burnt the previous night as well as every afternoon while lighting the lamps.Nothing should be burnt on this altar other than the designated incense for it. Not any donated incense nor any meal offering (i.e. of bread) or burnt offering (i.e. of animal).Once per year, on Yom Kippur, Aaron is to sprinkle blood on the horns of this altar from the bull and kid of the Yom Kippur sacrifice which served to atone for ritual contamination (in relation to the Mishkan and it's objects).This altar shall not be used for any other service other than what has been described here. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Inauguration of the Cohanim ContinuesThe 2nd RamIn continuing the inauguration of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood, instructions are given for them to now take the second ram (they had been instructed to bring 2 rams as part of the inaugural sacrifice - see yesterday's post) and place their hands upon its head.The ram should then be slaughtered, and some of its blood placed on the cartilage of Aaron and his sons' right ears, on the middle joint of the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet.The blood should then be sprinkled all around the altar.Moshe should then sanctify Aaron and his sons' and their clothing by sprinkling some of the blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil on Aaron and his sons' and on their clothing.Then the following parts of the ram should be sacrificed:* Its fat** The fat that lies below the kidneys*** The fat that covers its innards* Its diaphragm* Its 2 kidneys and their fat* Its right thigh***should then be removed from the ram and it's innards.*Side note: Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva disagree as to whether this is the fat of the small intestines or the stomach.**Side note: This area of fat below the kidneys, referred to as a the אליה is only burnt in sacrifices of lambs and rams but not with goats and bulls which don't have this type of fat (hence there was no mention of it when describing the bull in yesterday's post).***Side note: This is the only sacrifice in which the animal's right thigh is burnt.This sacrifice was considered a "peace offering" (Shlamim) and the ram was considered to be a "ram of perfection (lit. "wholeness", with the word שלום (peace) being related to the word שלם (whole)) in the sense that all the parties involved with it take part - i.e. the altar, the owners of that which was sacrificed (i.e. Aaron and his sons) and he who preformed the sacrifice (i.e. Moshe).The BreadThen one loaf from each of the 3 types of loaves of matza* (described in yesterday's post) should be placed into Aaron and his sons' palms. Moshe was then to place his hands under their palms** and they should all wave these loaves in 4 directions: Side to side to banish punishment from the four winds**** (east, west, north and south) and - up and down, acknowledging that the heavens and earth belong to G-d and as protection from harmful dew.*Side note: This was the only sacrifice in which "bread" (i.e matza) was burnt on the altar. Usually it is given to the Cohanim together with the meat.**Side note: Usually the Cohen would place his palms under the palms of the owner. In this case, Moshe acted as the Cohen.****Side note: Possibly read as "from punishment and from harmful winds"These loaves should then be taken and together with the first ram (see yesterday's post), burnt on the altar. This is to be considered a fire offering and brings G-d's satisfaction in having His will performed.The Breast of the RamThe breast of the 2nd ram mentioned above should then be waved from side to side and its thigh lifted up and down. This will sanctify these parts so that going forward, the breast and thighs will not be burnt on the altar with the rest of the parts of animals being sacrificed but rather given to the Cohanim to eat.Aaron's ClothingAaron's clothing will be vested with a special sanctity of the Cohen Gadol.Such that in the future, any of Aaron's descendants who are destined to be the Cohen Gadol shall wear these clothes for 7 consecutive days and this will sanctify him as Cohen Gadol.Only the Cohen Gadol is allowed to enter the Ohel Moed on Yom Kippur.If a Cohen Gadol has a son who is on the same level as him, he must be appointed as the next Cohen Gadol.The Cooking of the 2nd Ram (of Perfection/Wholeness)The remainder of this 2nd ram should be cooked and eaten by Aaron and his sons in the courtyard of the Ohel Moed*.*Side note: Due to its higher level of holiness. Regular peace offerings by contrast were allowed to be eaten anywhere within the confines of the city of Jerusalem.Through the eating of this sacrifice, Aaron and his sons are atoned and inaugurated into the priesthood. Thus no non-Cohen (i.e. anyone other than Aaron and his sons) is allowed to eat from this sacrifice.If there is anything from the sacrifice left over overnight, it should be burnt on the altar and not eaten due to its sanctity.7 DaysThis whole procedure with the sacrifices should be done daily for seven consecutive days.This 7 day ritual will consecrate the altar as the "holy of holies" whereby anything that touches it thereafter (even offerings which became invalid, so long as they originally appeared before the altar as valid*) will become sanctified.*Side note: Examples of this which Rashi lists are: Parts of an animal sacrifice which were meant to be placed on the altar but were left off it overnight, or animals which were placed outside of the courtyard after being slaughtered, or sacrifices which became "impure" or which were slaughtered with the intention of eating or sacrificing it outside of its permitted time or place. 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Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Inauguration of the CohanimG-d says that a sacrifice must be made in order to sanctify the Cohanim in their role.The sacrifice should consist of the following: 1 young bull (to atone for the sin of the golden calf which was a young bull), 2 Rams, and 10 loaves each of 3 different types of matzah, all made from fine flour. The 3 varieties of matzah were:1)Scalded matza bread: made by first cooking its dough in boiling water until it was edible, and then baked a little and then fried in oil, making it crispy. This had 1/2 a log* of oil in it. Which was double the amount used for the other two.*A log is equal to about 0.3 liters.2)Matzah loaves: Made by mixing the dough with oil and then baking it. This had a 1/4 of a log of oil in it.3)Matza wafers: baked without any oil (similar to matzos we eat nowadays), but anointed with (1/2 of a log of) oil after being baked. The anointing was made in the shape of the Greek letter "chi"*.*Side note: There is a dispute as to what this letter was exactly. It is unclear as to what Rashi's opinion is in this regard. See further commentaries for the varied opinions.On the day that the Mishkan is made, all of the items for this sacrifice should be brought to the courtyard.The inauguration of the Cohanim would then begin and take place following these steps:ImmersionAaron and his sons should be brought to the entrance of the Ohel Moed and immerse their entire bodies in water.The ClothingAaron should be clothed in all of the garments made for the Cohen Gadol, namely: 1)The Michnasaim (pants), 2)Kutonet (Tunic) 3)Me'il (Robe), 4)Ephod (Apron) 5)Choshen (Breastplate) 6)Avnet (sash) 7)Mitznevet (Turban) 8)Tzitz (Crown) (see earlier in this parsha for more details on these).Moshe is to then to anoint Aaron by pouring oil on his head and between his eyebrows and bringing this oil together with his fingers.Then Aaron's sons should be clothed in all of the garments which were made for them thus establishing their eternal priestly authority.The BullThen the bull should be brought up in front of the Ohel Moed and Aaron and his sons should place their hands on its head.Then, in the courtyard of the Mishkan, this bull should be slaughtered and using their fingers, some of its blood should be placed on the horns of the altar and the remaining blood spilled into the protruding band near the base of the altar that was situated one cubit above the ground.The membrane of the bull's rumen (first stomach), the diaphragm, a part from the liver and the 2 kidneys with their fat shall be burnt on the altar.Its flesh, hide and dung however should be burned on the outer altar outside of the camp as a sin offering*.*Side note: Other than the sin offerings which were involved in this inauguration of the Cohenim (there was also a calf that was sacrificed by Aaron on the 8th day of this ceremony that was similarly burnt in its entirely on the outer altar outside the camp), no sin offerings were burnt outside the camp like this, they were usually eaten by the Cohanim.**Another side note: Only sin offerings required that the blood be applied with a finger and sprinkled on the horn of the altar as it is the type of sacrifice whereby the Cohanim ascend the altar and sprinkle the blood from there. Other sacrifices required neither of these as the Cohanim sprinkled their blood from the ground, thus only on the lower part of the altar.The RamAaron and his sons should place their hands on the ram's head and then the ram should be slaughtered. Moshe would then take the blood in a vessel and sprinkle it on two diagonal sides of the altar, so it would be visible from any side.The ram should be chopped up and its innards and feet should be washed. Then all of this together with its head should be placed together and burnt up on the altar as a burnt offering. This will satisfy G-d for He willed that this sacrifice be made. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Robe. The Showplate. The Regular Cohanim’s Clothing.The Robe (The Me’il)The Ephod was to be worn on top of a robe made completely out of blue wool.The collar of this robe should be folded inwards, similar to a coat of arms which has a collar that is folded inwards.It is forbidden to tear this robe.The bottom hem of the robe was lined with a row of alternating pomegranates (made out of blue, purple and scarlet wool) and gold bells.The Cohen Gadol must wear these garments. If he does not, he is worthy of death by the hands of heaven.The Showplate (The Tzitz)A showplate should be made out of pure gold with an engraving upon it it saying “Holy to G-d”. This showplate should be worn around the Cohen Gadol’s forehead.The showplate had three holes in it – one on each end and one in the center. Through these holes were to be thread blue cords made out of blue wool so that 6 strands of this wool hung out (one on each side from being pulled through). The two side cords were tied together and then the middle cords tied from on top to the strands now in the back, creating a sort of cap that encircled the entire crown of the head, with the show plate on the forehead in front.The Cohen Gadol was to wear this showplate as a way to appease G-d for Him to accept sacrifices that were offered from someone “unclean”.**Side note: It did not appease for the inequity of someone who intended to eat from the sacrifice outside of the designated area (termed פִּגּוּל, lit. “abominable thing”). Nor did it appease for someone who wished to eat from the sacrifice after its allotted time (termed נוֹתָר). Nor did it appease for the Cohen himself if he were to be unclean. It only served to appease for the sake of the person who brought the sacrifice.According to most opinions, this showplate served to appease such sacrifices at all times, even if it wasn’t being worn by the Cohen Gadol at a specific time. There are some opinions however that say that it only served as an appeasement whilst the Cohen Gadol was wearing it, in which case he needed to touch it to remind himself of its significance for it to have that effect.Both the Kutonet (inner checkered tunic), and the Mitznefes (cap) (both mentioned in the first Aliyah) should be made out of linen.The Clothing of the Regular Cohanim.While the Cohen Gadol (Aaron) needed to have all of the garments mentioned, his sons (i.e. regular Cohanim), were only to wear these four garments: The Kutonet (inner tunic), the Avnet (a sash), the Migba’at (cap) and Michnasaim (linen pants – reaching from the waist to the thighs).Aaron and his sons are to wear their respective clothings and are then to be anointed as Cohanim with anointing oil.Aaron and his sons must wear their appointed clothing whenever they are to enter the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting), the Mishkan or approach the altar to serve G-d. If they do not wear these clothing when they are meant to, they will be liable to be put to death by the hands of heaven. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe
Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Choshen. How it attached to the Ephod. The Urim V'Tumim.The Choshen should have two braided golden chains attached to rings that were at its outer edges. These attached the Choshen to the Ephod's straps above (see below).The Choshen also had two chains hanging from its bottom two corners but from the inside. These attached the Choshen to the belt of the Ephod (see below).The Choshen should be made out of the same 5 materials as the Ephod: Blue, purple and scarlet wool, gold and twisted linen and similarly made from an expert weaver.The Choshen was called "Choshen Mishpat" (i.e "of judgement") as it:* atoned for justice being perverted or* clarified the words of justice and promised that these words would come true.The choshen should be made from material that is 1 amah x 1/2 an amah. It is then to be folded over so that it is square shaped, 1/2 an amah x 1/2 an amah (1/2 an amah is also known as a "zereth").Is should hang from settings in the straps of the Ephod by the golden chains described above and fall right on the Cohen Gadol's chest.The Choshen should have four rows of different stones, placed into the golden settings. The stones varied in size and the settings were made to fit them exactly.The stones in each row should be as such:Row one stones: odem, pitdah, and bareketh.Row two: nofech, sappir, and yahalom.Row three: leshem, shevo, and achlamah.Row four: tarshish, shoham, and yashpheh.These 12 stones corresponded to the 12 tribes in order of their birth*.*Side note: It was not in literal order of their birth but rather in order of the women who gave birth and then their respective birth orders. Leah was the first to give birth, so the first six stones correspond to her 6 sons, followed by Bilhah, hence the 7th stone, the "leshem" corresponds to Bilhah's first son Dan.The reason for these tribes to be commemorated in this way is for them to serve as a constant rememberance to G-d.While the settings of the Ephod's straps hit right above the Choshen and attached to it via the golden chains there, the straps continued behind the Choshen, falling right above the belt of the Ephod. The shoulder straps was attached to the front side of the Ephid via a blue string that was threaded though 2 rings that were at the bottom of the shoulder straps and then through the bottom 2 rings of the Choshen. This set the Choshen in place so it wouldn't move around.Moshe placed an inscription of the ineffable name* of G-d into the folds of the Choshen. This was referred to as the Urim VeTumim.*Side note: There is a dispute as to whether this was the Tetragrammaton, the 42 letter name or the 72 letter name.Aaron (the Cohen Gadol/high priest) wore the Choshen and was in charge of judging the people. When there was a question concerning a certain judgement, the words to the answer would light up on the Urim V'Tumim.During the 2nd Beis HaMikdash, while the Cohen Gadol did wear the Choshen, there was no name inside of it so it didn't work in this same way as it did in the Mishkan. Get full access to Sarede’s Substack at sarede.substack.com/subscribe