By Isabelle Busby

Last week's portion, Terumah, described how exactly to build the Tabernacle. This week, God's detailed instructions continue. In parashat Tetzaveh, directions are issued regarding the maintenance of the Menorah, the dress code of the Priests, the inauguration of the Priests and the Tabernacle, and the burning of incense in the sanctuary. For a full summary, see this.

The description of the special clothes worn by the High Priests is particularly specific in this week's parasha. There is a lot of talk of "precious stones" adorning the Ephod (a type of apron worn backwards) and the Choshen Mishpat (translated as "Breastplate of Judgment"). It is stated that the Priests are made sacred by the special priestly clothing. In relation to HDNA, this reminds me of the chultza tnua. Do we ever view it as a shirt that makes its wearer sacred? With the recent (ish) veida resolution designating it as a symbol of membership rather than leadership, I think that as a movement we are trying to dissolve any connotations of prestige that have been associated with the chultza. I see this resolution as a way for HDNA to not separate the madrichim from the chanichim (or the high priests from the average Israelites), because leadership and engagement in movement values is not restricted to one class of movement members. Going off of that though, by giving chultzot to chanichim younger than MBI-age, are we reinforcing the concept that sacred garments make the wearer sacred? Does it reinforce an idea that acting as a movement member comes with this article of clothing? Just something to think about.

The other part of this portion that caught my attention was the talk of inauguration and necessary incense/burnt offerent rituals that would allow God to dwell in the Tabernacle. In our lives, what rituals or everyday moments allow the spaces we occupy to have meaning for us? I think community is so often closely related to the space in which it exists. At machaneh, this is easy to see. The High Priests burn incense and offter burnt sacrifices twice daily, we do mifkad/hitkatsut and shout and sing a lot twice daily (along with other daily rituals). In other parts of your life, such as in your home, at your work, at your school, do you have rituals that allow the things you value (such as community) to dwell in those physical spaces? How can you use everyday rituals to reinforce the connection between the physical space and the abstract, mental space you are trying to create for you and those around you?