Rabbi Frand on Parshas Tetzaveh
This dvar Torah was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: Tape # 229, Purim
Issues II. Good Shabbos!
Many Can Have "Urim" - Power; But Few Have "Tumim" - Power
A large part of Parshas Tetzaveh is devoted to the Bigdai Kehunah [Priestly
Garments]. One of the Bigdai Kehunah was the "Choshen Mishpat." The Choshen
Mishpat, or Choshen as it is commonly called, was a Breastplate that
contained the names of the shevatim [Tribes] of Israel, engraved on twelve
stones.
The Urim V'Tumim was a writing of the Shaim HaMif'or'ash [Explicit Name] of
G-d, that was placed into the Choshen. The Urim V'Tumim gave the Choshen the
ability to convey communications from HaShem [G-d].
The Choshen, which the Kohen Gadol [High Priest] wore, served an invaluable
role. Whenever the Jewish nation was faced with a critical issue affecting
their national welfare (for example, a question of whether to go to war or
not), the Kohen Gadol would seek the advice from HaShem and the answer would
appear on the Choshen.
I remember as a child, thinking that this was the greatest thing in the
world. "If only I had my own Urim V'Tumim, I'd pass all my tests and I'd
know if the Yankees would win" - it was a wonderful dream. Of course, the
Urim V'Tumim was not used for such frivolous matters. It was used for
matters of the utmost importance.
The Ramba"n gives us an insight into the workings of the Choshen and the
Urim V'Tumim: The word Urim means 'lights'. Whenever the Kohen Gadol needed
to receive an answer, the letters (of the names of the Tribes, inscribed on
the twelve stones of the Breastplate) would illuminate. That was the 'Urim'
part. But the letters would be scrambled. It was not as simple as reading
out: G-O T-O W-A-R. One needed to break the code -- what were the lights of
the letters of the Breastplate saying? The Ramba"n explains that there were
secondary holy names called the 'Tumim'. These 'Tumim' gave the Kohen Gadol
the ability to interpret the 'Urim'. The ability to use the 'Tumim' to
interpret the lights of the 'Urim' was a form of Ruach HaKodesh [Divine
Inspiration].
The Talmud says [Berachos 31a] that, in fact, there were times when the
Kohen could not figure out what the letters were saying. There is a famous
Gemara about the High Priest Eli, who misread the letters of the Urim
v'Tumim regarding Chana. Eli read the letters appearing on the Breastplate
to be Shin-Cof-Reish-Hay (Shikorah -- drunken one) when in fact the correct
reading was Cof-Shin-Reish-Hay (Kesheira -- worthy one). At that precise
moment, Eli lacked the power of 'Tumim'.
The sefer Bais Av mentions that nowadays there are people who are blessed
with the power of 'Urim'. What is the power of 'Urim' nowadays? Orah [Light]
-- This refers to Torah. There are people who are steeped in Torah, have
knowledge of Torah and can bring proofs from Torah. But not everyone who has
the power of 'Urim' -- who looks at the Torah and sees the light of the
Torah -- has the power of 'Tumim'. It does not immediately follow that most
anyone has the power to interpret what the Torah is in fact saying. The
people who have the power of the 'Tumim' are a few treasured individuals
in each generation.
That is a special ability. Many people have Urim. They see the Torah and can
proclaim something is HaShem's will and this is "the opinion of Torah"
(Da'as Torah). But that is not always the case. To truly perceive Da'as
Torah, one needs the power of 'Tumim'. Many times people sincerely and
honestly say "This is the 'Urim' -- this is what the Torah wants" but
sometimes these people do not have the power of 'Tumim'.
A profound example of this is found in the Haftorah from Parshas Zachor
[Samuel I; Chapter 15]. We see an unbelievable thing in this Haftorah.
Shmuel HaNovi [Shmuel the Prophet] told Shaul HaMelech [King Shaul] to go
and eradicate Amalek. Shmuel HaNovi was extremely explicit. Shaul was
instructed to have no mercy. He was to kill man, woman, and child. He was to
kill out all the animals -- camels to donkeys!
Shaul HaMelech went to war and smote Amalek, but he had mercy on the King of
Amalek and on the animals. HaShem became angry with Shaul and ordered Shmuel
HaNovi to strip the monarchy from him. When Shmuel came to deliver this
message to Shaul, the King came out to greet the prophet. Shaul HaMelech's
first words to Shmuel HaNovi were "I have fulfilled the word of HaShem."
How is this possible? Shaul HaMelech could not bring himself to kill them
all. He had mercy. So the first words out of his mouth should have been,
"Shmuel, I am sorry. Shmuel, I blew it -- I have a soft heart." However, that
is not what Shaul said. Shaul HaMelech bragged about fulfilling the letter
of the law!
HaShem made a clear inventory of what he wanted accomplished. Shaul was
supposed to kill all the animals. He did not kill all the animals. How could
he claim he fulfilled the word of HaShem?
There can only be one answer. Shaul HaMelech believed that this was the Will
of HaShem. He believed that by saving the animals and eventually sacrificing
them, that would be a sanctification of HaShem's Name. Shaul believed that
this is what HaShem _really_ intended. This was Shaul's understanding -
based on the power of the 'Urim'.
This is a classic example of having the power of 'Urim' but not the power of
'Tumim'. A person can sometimes be blinded. Whether it is for reasons of
personal motive or out of fear of people or for any other reason. For some
reason, Shaul HaMelech misinterpreted the 'Urim'. He looked at the words of
the Torah and said, 'This is what HaShem means; this is what HaShem wants' -
- and yet was completely wrong.
The power of 'Tumim' is reserved for the select few. That is why we need a
leader, a Gadol [a Great Torah personality]; that is why we need a Rav; that
is why we need a Rosh Yeshiva [Dean of a Yeshiva]. As much as we think we
may be able to figure out the 'Urim' on our own, we still need guidance --
because we do not always know the 'Tumim'.
We can be well intended and think we have textual proofs, but if we do not
have the guidance of a person who is gifted with the insight of 'Tumim', we
can make tragic errors.
The end of the book of Shoftim contains one of the most sordid incidents in
Jewish history, that of the Concubine in Givah. The aftermath of that
incident was that the other shevatim gathered against Benyamin. They were
justifiably outraged. They wanted to fulfill the will of HaShem ensure that
justice was served.
However, after the fact, they realized that they had gone too far. They
repented, they offered sacrifices, and they tried to make amends to preserve
the Tribe of Benyamin. If their intentions had been noble, how did it happen
that they became so carried away with their actions?
The last pasuk [verse] of the book of Shoftim provides an answer. "In those
days there was no king in Israel, every man did as he saw fit in his own
eyes." That is the bottom line. One can be well intended. He can act for the
sake of Heaven. He can prove that "this is what it says to do in the Torah".
He can see the lights of the 'Urim' as clear as day. But if he does not have
the 'Tumim', he will not know how to interpret the 'Urim'. He will not know
how far to go and what to do. He will not know when to stop and when to go.
When do such things happen? When there is no 'king' in Israel. Unless we
have a bona fide leader, the worst of things can happen.
The power of the 'Urim' combined with the 'Tumim' is reserved for the few of
a generation. HaShem should have Mercy upon us and direct us to the guidance
of the people who not only have the power of the 'Urim' but also the power
of the 'Tumim'.
This week's class is dedicated for the refuah sheleima, the complete
healing, of Perel Leiba bas Malka and Tzipporah bas Sarah by the Benjamin
family of Potomac, Maryland.
Sources and Personalities
Ramba"n -- Rabbi Moshe Ben Nachman (1194-1270); Gerona, Spain; Eretz
Yisroel; one of the major commentaries on Chumash.
Rav Elyakim Schlesinger -- Author of Sefer Bais Av, Rosh Yeshiva in London.
This write-up was adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher
Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Torah Tape series on the weekly Torah portion.
The complete list of halachic topics covered in this series for Parshas
Tetzaveh are provided below:
Also Available: Mesorah / Artscroll has published a collection
of Rabbi Frand's essays. The book is entitled:
and is available through your local Hebrew book store or from
Project Genesis, 1-410-654-1799.
