Serving God with ears, hands, and feet Tetzaveh — Exodus
27:20-30:10 February 9, 2011 Parshat Tetzaveh continues the
theme begun last week — instructions for making the Mishkan, the
portable sanctuary, and its furnishings — dealing with the
people who will serve in the sanctuary, the kohanim (priests).
We read about the elaborate vestments that were to be made for
Aaron, the kohen gadol (high priest), and the special garments
that were to be made for his sons. And we also read about the
ritual of the kohanim’s consecration. The Torah tells us that on
the day of their ordination, Aaron and his sons were to be
dressed in their priestly vestments. Aaron was to be anointed
with special oil and then sacrifices were to be offered on
behalf of the new priests. The Torah then says: “Slaughter the
ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the ridge of
Aaron’s right ear and on the ridges of his sons’ right ears, and
on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their
right feet.” This marking of ears,