Mark Call

Parsha “Tetzaveh” (Exodus 27:10 – 30:10) continues the description of elements associated with the still-to-be-built ‘tabernacle in the wilderness,’ this time beginning with the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons.

The Erev Shabbat Reading begins with “command” them to make oil for the menorah, and then continues through the sanctification of the ‘cohenim’:

The Sabbath Day midrash concerns a conjunction of events, both historic and current, and associated readings. And as seems to so often be the case, there’s more than just coincidence evidently at work now.

One of the obvious, and stated, purposes of the garments created “for splendor and for beauty,” to be worn by the cohenim (priests) was that they be “set apart” to serve YHVH. And the golden inscription on Aaron’s forehead said, “Holy to YHVH.” The fact that such a priesthood no longer exists only makes the contrast more clear.

But several events this week really brought that home.

By almost any Scriptural measure, what we now have instead looks like an “anti-priesthood,” set apart not to YHVH, but His “Adversary.”

And an honest reading of Scripture is “uncomfortably clear” on those implications.

Note: The midrash mentions a related look at the story of Esther, and the ‘Purim’ holiday, which was an element of Mark’s observations in the “Come out of her, My people” Show this week: