\u05d1\u05e1”\u05d3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exodus 27:20-30:10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And you shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave upon it, like the engravings of a signet: SANCTIFIED TO THE L-RD (Exodus 28:36)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Of all of the priestly garments, the tzitz<\/em>, or headplate, is unique, not only by virtue of its material and engraving, but also because of the function it performed. Generally, the garments, whether those belonging to the High Priest or the regular priests, are designated \u05dc\u05db\u05d1\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d5\u05dc\u05ea\u05e4\u05d0\u05e8\u05ea<\/strong>, lechavod u\u2019letifaret<\/em> (\u201cfor honor and splendor\u201d), meaning that their function is to beautify the appearance of the kohanim<\/em> themselves. The tzitz<\/em> has a slightly different purpose, as the following verse states: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity committed in the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow, even in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the L-RD\u201d (Exodus 28:38)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The tzitz <\/em>facilitates the acceptance by G-d of \u201choly gifts\u201d. Offerings made in the Temple have to confirm to an elaborate set of requirements in order for them to be acceptable as such. If these offerings are blemished or deficient in certain ways, the presence of the tzitz<\/em> \u201cfills in\u201d the deficiency, making what would have been a mediocre or unfit offering into a perfect one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How can this be explained? Think of a store credit; if you have some, you can purchase an item whose expense exceeds the amount you have to spend, by combining your money with the store credit. The tzitz<\/em> is like a credit or gift card whose value never runs out. Being human and being imperfect, this is a very beneficial function, since it is likely that whatever we give to G-d will come up short of perfection. Included in the mitzvah of the tzitz<\/em> is the criterion that it be made of pure gold, since being sanctified to G-d, it is not befitting that it be made of impure gold, or even an admixture of elements, such as the linen, techeles<\/em>, silk and crimson wool of other priestly garments (Abarbanel). The perfect tzitz<\/em> makes up for our imperfections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the story of the Sophisticate and the Simpleton<\/em>, Rebbe Nachman z\u201dl describes how the Simpleton, a shoemaker, had never learned his trade to perfection, and therefore made shoes that were triangular, as opposed to rectangular, in shape–yet, despite his lack of completeness, he was joyous. The notes on the story indicate that the concept of a shoe corresponds to prayer, as the angel responsible for its transport to Heaven is called \u201cSandalphon\u201d (note the word, \u201csandal\u201d in this name). The prayer of the Simpleton was three- rather than four-sided; it was not perfect. But the Simpleton did what he could, given his resources, and did not concern himself with results; he rejoiced in any case. But, if our prayer is imperfect, if our offerings are imperfect, why are they accepted?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that the tzitz <\/em>is placed upon the forehead of the High Priest. The forehead is called \u05de\u05e6\u05d7<\/strong>, metzach,<\/em> in Hebrew. It is the location of the power of sight, and therefore the tzitz <\/em>shares a common linguistic root as other words that are related to vision, such as \u05e6\u05d9\u05e6\u05d9\u05ea<\/strong>, tzitzit<\/em>, the fringes made on four-cornered garments worn by Jewish men, and \u05de\u05e6\u05d9\u05e5<\/strong>, metzitz<\/em>, \u201cpeering\u201d, as in \u201cHe peers through the lattice\u201d (Song of Songs 2:9). The purpose of the tzitzit<\/em>, for example, is to remind its wearer of the commandments when they look at them, as the verse states, \u201cand you shall see them and you shall remember\u201d (Numbers 15:39). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly, the word for \u201cbrazenness\u201d in Hebrew is \u05e2\u05d6\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05e6\u05d7<\/strong> azut metzach<\/em>, literally \u201ca boldness of forehead\u201d, perhaps an allusion to the quality of being headstrong. This is close to the idea of \u05e2\u05d6\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd<\/strong> azut panim<\/em>, or chutzpah<\/em>, which is considered in our Torah to be a poisonous personality trait. \u201cThe brazen shall go to Gehinnom, and the shamefaced shall go to Heaven\u201d (Avos 5:20). In an earlier mishna, it is stated, \u201cthe bashful (shamefaced) cannot learn [Torah]\u201d (2:6). This appears to be a contradiction–isn\u2019t it better to be shamefaced? We resolve this by positing that boldness has a place as well, and it is in the quest for holiness, for understanding G-d\u2019s Words, but it has no place in interpersonal communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tzitz <\/em>is placed in the precise location that signifies brazenness. Yet potential chutzpah is subdued symbolically by the fact that the headplate it has the words \u201csanctified to G-d\u201d in relief placed upon it. The tzitz <\/em>indicates modesty and humility, precisely the qualities that a person must have when standing before G-d. This is why the imperfect offering is accepted.<\/p> GOOD SHABBOS! SHABBAT SHALOM!<\/strong><\/p> By Rabbi Tani Burton<\/strong><\/p> \u00a9 Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our blogs may contain text\/quotes\/references\/links that include copyright material of Mechon-Mamre.org<\/a>, Aish.com<\/a>, Sefaria.org<\/a>, Chabad.org<\/a>, and\/or AskNoah.org<\/a>, which we use in accordance with their policies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u05d1\u05e1”\u05d3 Exodus 27:20-30:10 And you shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave upon it, like the engravings of a signet: SANCTIFIED TO THE L-RD (Exodus 28:36) Of all of the priestly garments, the tzitz, or headplate, is unique, not only by virtue of its material and engraving, but also because of the function […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parshot-of-the-rabbis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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