Re: Hamaayan / The Torah Spring: Parashat Tetzaveh

I don't know how many read these posts. I found here something quite
topical to a thread of ours.

snip

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"These are the vestments that they shall make: a Breastplate, an
Ephod . . ." (28:4)

Rashi writes: "The Ephod - I have not learned what this is, nor have I
found in the Talmud a description of its construction. However, my heart
tells me that it is tied in back and is as wide as a person's back, like
the aprons that noblewomen wear when they ride horses."

What does Rashi mean by, "My heart tells me"? R' Pinchas Menachem
Alter z"l (the Gerrer Rebbe; died 1996) suggests: Undoubtedly, Rashi was
very careful to observe the law (Bemidbar 15:39), "You shall not stray
after you heart and after your eyes." He used to guard his eyes not
to see anything inappropriate, and he certainly did not look at women
unnecessarily. Yet, he once noticed a French noblewoman riding her
horse, and he was troubled; why had G-d caused him to see such a
thing? When it was time to write his commentary on this week's
parashah, he understood. "My heart tells me," he concluded, that
he had noticed that particular woman so that he could interpret the
verses properly.
(Quoted in Otzrotaihem Shel Tzaddikim)

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"The work of a stone engraver, pituchai chotam / engraved like a
signet ring." (28:11)

Rashi explains that the first half of this pasuk refers to the work of a
craftsman, an expert at working with stones. However, R' Yisrael Taub
z"l (1849-1920; the first Modzhitzer Rebbe) observes that Rashi made a
subtle change in quoting the verse. While the pasuk refers to "stone"
in the singular, Rashi speaks of "stones" in the plural. Why?

R' Taub explains that Rashi was hinting at a subtle lesson in the verse.
The words "pituchai chotam," besides meaning, "engraved like a signet ring,"
also can mean, "opening what is sealed." We find that the Torah is called
"Stone," as in the Tablets of Stone ("luchot even"). The Yetzer Hara / Evil
Inclination also is called a "stone," as in "a heart of stone" ("laiv even").
Rashi is telling us that one must be an expert craftsman, a master
stoneworker, to work on these two stones.

Specifically, the master artisan is someone who understands how and when
to open what is closed, and how to close that which is open. When it comes
to Torah, the "artisan" must open closed hearts, as we pray every day in the
U'va Le'tzion prayer, "He [G-d] will open our hearts with His Torah." On the
other hand, the "master stoneworker" also needs to close what should not be open.
For example, he must close his eyes and not see improper sights. The Yetzer
Hara is hard at work trying to drag one down into the depths of sin and
despair. One's heart should be open, full of Torah thoughts and feelings,
but the Yetzer Hara tries hard to close it, turning it into a heart of stone.
The Yetzer Hara also tries to open what should be closed, trying to attract
man to sights he should not see. (Divrei Yisrael)

At least I don't _think_ he follows SCJM. :-)

Moshe Schorr
It is a tremendous Mitzvah to always be happy! - Reb Nachman of Breslov
The home and family are the center of Judaism, *not* the synagogue.
Disclaimer: Nothing here necessarily reflects the opinion of Hebrew University
.

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