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Orchard of Delights Tetzaveh
£The Torah’s Perspective The Torah’s Perspective The Torah’s Perspective and, in a sense, shouldering the responsibility of praying for the
entire nation of Israel.
££
on Sexuality The responsibility shouldered by the High Priest in the Temple
on Sexuality
on Sexuality
is beautifully alluded to by the unique garments he wore, which
are described in the portion of Tetzaveh. All the cohanim wore four
One of the many mitzvot in Mishpatim dictates the husband’s basic garments during their service in the Temple, while the High
obligation to provide his wife with three things: food, clothing, Priest wore eight: the four ordinary ones and four additional ones.
and marital relations (Exodus 21:10). That the Torah actually Two of the High Priest’s unique garments were the Breastplate of
obligates the husband to provide his wife with marital intimacy was Judgment (choshen mishpat) and the apron-like garment, the efod,
as revolutionary in its time as it is today. Contrary to most, if not to which the breastplate was attached. Twelve precious stones were
all, other cultures, the Torah considers sexuality in the context of set into the breastplate in four rows of three stones each. Two golden
marriage as primarily a man’s obligation to his wife. Taking this one chains attached the breastplate to the apron, upon whose shoulders
step further, the Oral Torah notes that the man should not just “go two additional stones were placed. Each of the precious stones on
through the motions” in a perfunctory fashion; he must also place the breastplate was engraved with the name of one of the tribes, and
his wife’s pleasure before his own. each of the shoulder stones on the apron had the names of six tribes
engraved on it.
This approach certainly departs radically from the crass and
degrading treatment of women as sexual objects pervading many Symbolically, the High Priest performed the Temple service while
cultures around the world, especially in the subtle and not so subtle having the twelve tribes’ engraved close to his heart and upon his
use of female sexuality in contemporary mass media and especially shoulders in order to remind him how important his service was for
advertising. The Torah outlook is diametrically opposed to these the entire people of Israel and for each and every Jew. When men
prevailing practices and absolutely rejects such a crude use of women pray every morning, they wear tefillin (phylacteries) on their heads
and degradation of sexuality. and arms to remind them to channel their intellectual and emotional
The expression of sexuality within the appropriate marital energies in positive and Godly directions. However, they should also
framework is seen by Judaism as a holy act, bringing together husband remember that they are acting like cohanim and they need to carry
and wife in the most intimate and spiritual manner. Although a wife in their hearts and on their shoulders the sense of responsibility that
is also obligated to provide her husband with marital intimacy and comes along with this: being partners with God in caring for every
pleasure, the Torah emphasizes, and enshrines in law, that it is first Jew and human being. It is this additional level of responsibility
and foremost a husband’s obligation to his wife. both men and women need to be aware of and integrate into their
consciousness when praying each day.
There is an astonishing connection between this message,
symbolized above by the two priestly garments, and Shema –
Judaism’s cardinal declaration of faith. Shema reads, “Hear O Israel,
God our God [Hashem Elokeinu], God is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
In the prayer service, this declaration is followed by the recitation
of “Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity.”
Shema contains six Hebrew words and twenty-five Hebrew letters,
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