by Rabbi Shlomo Segal
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
This d’var Torah is part of Rabbi Segal’s podcast series. This podcast is available this week from here. To listen to this podcasts in the future please find it in the Segal’s Sentiments archive here.
This week’s Torah portion is called Tetzaveh. It concerns itself with clothing, specifically those worn by Aaron and his sons the priests in the ancient Sanctuary. These special garments served a very important purpose. It helped the priests understand the significance of bringing honor and glory to the services and tasks they were performing. In other words Holy Work needed to be conducted in a holy way.
In Jewish tradition there is a concept called Hiddur Mitzvah, “the beautification of a mitzvah.” (Exodus 15:2) This idea is very relevant to the way we practice Judaism today. When we daven, when we worship for example it is not the amount of words said that are significant but rather the way in which we pray. In our congregation most of the prayers are sung to melodies which help to accentuate the beautiful words we are saying and connect with God in a more meaningful way.
Another example. When Jews have a Shabbat meal at home we cover the challah, the bread, not simply with a napkin or a towel but with a special covering to indicate that the ritual we are performing is sacred.
I urge all of you to think about a Mitzvah or a ritual that you do and consider ways of beautifying or enhancing those things. Remember that it is ultimately the glory that accompanies a Mitzvah which truly makes us more cognizant of the meaning behind what we are doing and opens a gateway to a much more powerful relationship with the Holy One.
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Rabbi Shlomo Segal is a member of the UTJ’s Panel of Halakhic Inquiry, which issues religious responses on behalf of the organization on contemporary issues, and vice president of Morashah, the rabbinic arm of UTJ.
Rabbi Segal is also a member of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) and the New York Board of Rabbis.
In fall 2013, after a decade of pulpit experience, Rabbi Segal founded Kehilat Moshe, a liberal Orthodox congregation in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, NY. While still a new congregation, Kehilat Moshe has emerged as a diverse, multi-generational caring and intellectually stimulating community rooted in both pluralism and halakhah.
Rabbi Segal delivers a weekly commentary which you can find at kehilatmoshe.org and on YouTube. He was also interviewed on National Public Radio on the subject of “Swinging Chicken Ritual Divides Orthodox Jews”.