Parshat Tetzaveh; Exodus 27:20-30:10 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

It is well known that Parshat Tezaveh makes no mention of Moses by name! Instead the instructions of this portion continue to detail the various important items that will be needed for the sacrificial worship in the Mishkan, the tabernacle in the desert. In particular the details of the robes of the priesthood and the various symbols of the priestly office are described and the instructions for how to make these items are given. Of special note is the Choshen Mishpat—or breastplate of judgment. This special breast covering is to be made of gold, blue purple and crimson yarns and linens. It attached to the ephod a pinafore type cloth worn by the High Priest and set into the choshen mishpat were 12 semi-precious and precious stones each one representing one of the twelve tribe of Israel. Each of the different gemstones had the tribes name to be carved into it. This breastplate of decision or judgment was to be worn by the High Priest, by Aaron, each time he went into the Mishkan as the Torah tells us, “Aaron shall carry the names of the children of Israel on the breast piece of decision over his heart, when he enters the sanctuary for remembrance before Adonai at all times” (Ex. 28:29). Aaron carried the tribes with him reminding him not only did he serve God but he served the people Israel. The Torah teaches us that Aaron wore this over his heart conveying the idea that the High Priest, that Aaron needed to be close to the people. Not an easy task for the Cohen Gadol-for the High Priest who by role and by robe were set apart. Also by wearing the tribes on his chest, because he could enter the holiest precincts of the Mishkan, he brought the people into direct contact with the Divine.

But this Chosen Mishpat, this breast piece of decision also held the Urim and Tumim. Scholars are not exactly sure about what the Urim and Tumim were or what they looked like but it is clear that these were to some kind of consulting or oracular devices that priest might consult. Thus the name of this special shield as the breast piece of judgment or decision because the Urim and Tumim conceivably gave answers or judgments to particular dilemmas of the people.

Today, Jews of Ashkenazic descent dress their Sifrei Torah, Torah scrolls much like the High Priests of old. There are special robes or mantels, crowns and sashes-much like what is described in Parshat Tetzaveh. But also the Torah has a choshen, a breast plate-today often made out of metal like pewter and silver and brass. The design as rendered in this week’s Torah portion to include the 12 tribes on the breast plate is quite popular.

Rabbi Jacob ben Asher used this phrase Chosen Mishpat to describe one of his sections of his legal work the Araba Turim. Arba Turim is also a phrase that comes from Parshat Tetzaveh as it describes the four (arba) rows (turim) of stones that are to be mounted in the breast piece of judgements (Ex. 28:17). Later this legal work became the model for the Shulchan Aruch of the great Joseph Karo and one of the four sections there is also called Choshen Mishpat. This area of the law includes finance, damages, laws of the Bet Din and witnesses.