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Parashat Tetzaveh
By Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites
In Parashat Tetzaveh, Moses is commanded to make sacred garments for Aaron, the High Priest, and his sons, the priests, “for honor and splendor.”
“And you shall speak to all the wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom.”
(Exodus 28)
From the wording of the Torah, we understand that making these garments required not only technical skill but, more importantly, “wisdom of the heart.” The Torah explains why in the continuation of the verse:
“And they shall make the holy garments (with intention and thought) to sanctify him to serve Me as a priest.”
(ibid.)
Those engaged in this work had to do it with the right intention. The early commentator Rabbeinu Bechaye (Rabbeinu Bechaye ben Asher, Saragossa, Spain, 1255–c. 1340) explains that this work had to be done “for its own sake” and in accordance with Moses’ intention:
“’And you shall speak to all the wise-hearted, and they shall make.’ The phrase ‘and they shall make’ is placed next to ‘the wise-hearted’ to indicate that the making of the garments required thoughtful intention, meaning they had to be made for their specific purpose, and it says ‘and you shall make’ to imply that they should be made according to Moses’ intention.”
In other words, God commanded Moses to choose wise-hearted individuals who understood the proper intention in preparing the garments—so much so that they would be able to act “according to Moses’ knowledge,” as if entering his mind and performing the work with elevated spiritual awareness.
This raises a potential problem: Who would dare volunteer for a role that demands such rare wisdom of the heart?
Rabbi Moshe Sofer (Rabbi of Pressburg, about 200 years ago, known for his famous work Chatam Sofer) interpreted the verse as follows:
“’And you shall speak to all the wise-hearted’—and what shall you tell them? ‘Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom!’”
In other words, speak to the wise-hearted, whom I (God) have already filled with a spirit of wisdom. Inform them, make them aware of their potential. Once they recognize their own abilities, they will be able to take on the task.
This interpretation carries an important message for everyone. A person who does not recognize their own qualities—no matter how high their intelligence or rare their talents—will never achieve anything significant. Their contribution to the world and humanity will be minimal, if at all. Such a person is like a seed with the potential to grow into a fruitful tree, but instead of being planted and nurtured, it is left to dry out and decay.
Wisdom of the heart and life skills are gifts from the Creator. A person can build, act, create, contribute, and make the world a better place. But just as easily, they can wither, stagnate, waste their life in idleness, and even deteriorate. A person must realize their potential—otherwise, they will live a life of boredom, bitterness, and personal and familial suffering.
Every person faces two paths: the path of self-fulfillment, creative joy, and happiness, and on the other hand, the path of emptiness and frustration. There is no greater joy than the satisfaction that fills the heart of one who utilizes their strengths and wisdom. Such a person experiences a life full of action and meaning, and their contribution to the world can be extraordinary.
The greatest kindness one can do for another is to help them discover their strengths and talents and assist them in fulfilling them.
