Tetzaveh : Zemer of The Week

 

Avraham Fried’s fun version: https://youtu.be/s0z9npi9Uxw

“For the Jews there was light and joy.”

Purim’s transformation from concealment to revealed dignity parallels the Kohen Gadol’s garments, which express inner holiness outwardly. Both reflect the Word of the Week theme: beauty and appearance can convey deeper spiritual identity when shaped intentionally.

 

 

The zemer for this week: ברוך א-ל עליון

Yaakov Shwekey’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR9ltFuhx4I

 

This zemer was written by R’ Baruch ben Shmuel, a prominent Tosafist (e.g., he wrote the Tosafos for Masechet Sota) who lived in the thirteenth century.  The zemer’s acrostic is “Baruch Chazak.”  This zemer praises Shabbat observance and observers, and describes the rewards that await those who observe it.

 

A central element of this parsha is the detailed description of the clothes of the kohanim.

 

Some of the connections to the parsha:

·   Last line of 2^nd stanza:
“מלבושי כבוד” (“Garments of honor”): The first full perek of the parsha focuses on the “ מלבוש יכהונה ” that would be worn by the Kohanim to honor Hashem in the Mishkan (Shemot 28).

·    Last line of 6^th stanza:
“למשחה בהם שמחה, וגם עונג” (“Delight and gladness with which to anoint”): Aharon and his children would be anointed as Kohanim in those מלבושי כהונה

·   3^rd line of 5^th stanza:
“כתר הלום על ראשם” (“A fitting crown He will affix on their heads”): The ציץ (headplate) crowned the head of the Kohen Gadol (Shemot 28:36-38).

 

 

·   2^nd line of 4^th stanza:
“גורלו” (“His lot”): The lot – for which Purim is named – played a central role in the Purim story (Esther 3:7).