Parashas Tetzaveh - The merit of a good heart

This week's Dvar Torah has been sponsored for:
Bzchus of finding a proper shidduch: Yonasan Reuven ben Keila Lea'na
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Parashas Tetzaveh - The merit of a good heart

Parashas Tetzaveh is a continuation from last week's parasha, Teruma. Hashem gave various instructions regarding the building of the Mishkan and it's vessels. The parasha starts off with the commandment that olive oil should be contributed for the Menorah. Following that, Moshe was commanded to make Aaron's priestly garments. Like last week, there were specific instructions and dimensions of how it should be made.

The garments consisted of: A turban, head-plate, breastplate, belt, apron, breeches (pants), robe, and long undergarment.

The article I want to focus on this week is the breastplate, also known as the Choshen Mishpat. It was woven in a pattern which contained four rows and three columns of gold settings. Into each setting, precious gems were inserted, totaling to twelve. The Choshen Mishphat contained something called, "The Urim 'lights' and Tumim 'perfections'. It had all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet on it, because its main purpose was to be consulted for answers.

The Urim and Tumim could only be consulted by a king, the Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court), or a public official in the interest of the entire community. Both the High Priest and the questioner would face the ark. The one asking would then make his inquiry in such a low voice, that no one else but he could hear it.

The High Priest would meditate on the stones of the breastplate, and the letters containing the answer would stand out. With his Divine Inspiration, the High Priest would then be able to combine the letters to spell out the answer. (Don't get this confused with the 'Ouija Board,' a concept the non-Jews took from us. The Ouija board is used to "communicate with spirits," nothing like the Urim v'Tumim.)

The posuk says, "Aharon will carry the names of Bnei Yisroel... over his heart... Place in the breastplate the Urim and Tumim, and they will be over Aharon's heart... Aharon will carry the judgment of Bnei Yisroel over his heart, before Hashem always." [1]

I wondered, "Why was the word 'Lev' (heart) repeated numerous times?"

There's a mishna in avos that says, "Look at which is the correct and straight path, and stick to it. Rav Elazar says, "That path is: A 'lev tov' (good heart)." [2] Bartanura (commentator on mishna) says the reason is because the heart is what motivates a person's inner power to continue spouting out good deeds.

Aharon was known as someone who always had a lev tov. When he'd see two people in a quarrel, he would do everything in his power to befriend them. He was a 'ohev shalom v'rodef shalom' (lover of peace and pursuer of peace) [3] If he knew of someone who sinned, he would walk up to them as if they were worth a million dollars. The sinner would think to himself, "How is it possible he thinks so highly of me? I am a sinner! I must live up to his expectations." It ultimately led him to doing teshuva (repentance).

This responsibility of carrying the Choshem Mishpat (along with the job of being High Priest) was fit for Aharon. Carrying the names of Bnei Yisroel in his heart was nothing new. In Parashas Tetzaveh he now carries their names over (as well as in) his heart. He always thought about other people, looking to help. He was granted the privilege of wearing it over his heart as a reward for the happiness he felt (in his heart) when he heard his younger brother, Moshe, had been chosen as the leader to redeem the Jews. [4]

A lesson I learned from this week's parasha is the importance and benefit of having a good heart: always looking to help our fellow Jews, continuously having them in our hearts. Aharon not only preached it, but practiced it as well. Aharon had a huge zchus (merit) of carrying the Choshen Mishpat over his heart for the goodness of his heart he had already shown.

B'ezras Hashem, we should always be considerate and help our fellow Jews. One of our biggest goals is to emulate someone we admire. Aharon is that role-model we should live up to.

Good Shabbos,
Nisso

[1] 28:29&30
[2] Avos 2:9
[3] Avos 1:12
[4] Shemos Rabba 3:22