Tetzaveh:
DVAR TORAH-
One of the clothes of the Kohen Gadol mentioned in this week’s Parsha is the Me’il (28:4). The Gemara (Erachin 16b) tells us that the Me’il atones for Lashon Hara, for "H-Shem declared "Let the thing which emits noise (referring to the Me’il, which had bells on it) come and atone for an action of noise." (Referring to the speech of Lashon Hara).
The Chofetz Chaim explains this via the fact that the Me’il's color was that of Techailes. As the Gemara (Menachos 43b) highlights, the color Techailes is supposed to remind us of the sea, which reflects the sky, which is similar to the color of the Kisei Hakavod. Therefore, the Gemara is telling us that the color of the Me’il reminds us of the Kisei Hakavod, which will make us think twice before opening our mouths to speak Lashon Hara, due to the Heavenly judgment that we are wary of. Indeed, frighteningly, the Tanna DeBei Eliyahu writes that Lashon Hara goes straight up to the Kisei Hakavod.
Moreover, the sound of the Me’il is a positive sound - it is for the glory of H-Shem (like all of the Bigdei Kehunah), and this usage of sound for a positive reason has the effect of atoning for the negative sounds made by one who speaks Lashon Hara.
STORY- (L’kavod Purim)
A relative of the Ksav Sofer, who happens to be a red-head, tells over this story:
Growing up, the Ksav Sofer was a mischievous child who loved a good laugh.
One day he decided to pull a little prank on his father. He began walking down the main street of town, and whenever he encountered someone with a red beard he told him "My father would like to see you in his office today at 4:00 pm."
At precisely 4:00 that afternoon, the Chasam Sofer opened the door to his waiting room, and to his surprise, there sat about 30 red bearded men sitting there waiting to be called in. Meanwhile, the young Ksav Sofer stood in the corner laughing himself to tears. In appreciation for the joke and his son's youthful spirit, his father took him aside and gave him a 'Bracha' that he should be 'Zocheh' to have red-heads as descendants.... and so it was. Many of his grand-children have red hair!!
JOKES -
1) Pacing back and forth, a man was getting really anxious about his imminent operation.
His wife asked him: "What's the matter? Why are you getting so worked up?"
He replied: "I heard one of the nurses say 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure you'll be all right.'"
"She was just trying to comfort you!" said his wife. "What's so frightening about that?"
"She was talking to the surgeon!"
2) The Hebrew School teacher was describing how Lot 's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Josh interrupted. "My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"
DVAR TORAH-
One of the clothes of the Kohen Gadol mentioned in this week’s Parsha is the Me’il (28:4). The Gemara (Erachin 16b) tells us that the Me’il atones for Lashon Hara, for "H-Shem declared "Let the thing which emits noise (referring to the Me’il, which had bells on it) come and atone for an action of noise." (Referring to the speech of Lashon Hara).
The Chofetz Chaim explains this via the fact that the Me’il's color was that of Techailes. As the Gemara (Menachos 43b) highlights, the color Techailes is supposed to remind us of the sea, which reflects the sky, which is similar to the color of the Kisei Hakavod. Therefore, the Gemara is telling us that the color of the Me’il reminds us of the Kisei Hakavod, which will make us think twice before opening our mouths to speak Lashon Hara, due to the Heavenly judgment that we are wary of. Indeed, frighteningly, the Tanna DeBei Eliyahu writes that Lashon Hara goes straight up to the Kisei Hakavod.
Moreover, the sound of the Me’il is a positive sound - it is for the glory of H-Shem (like all of the Bigdei Kehunah), and this usage of sound for a positive reason has the effect of atoning for the negative sounds made by one who speaks Lashon Hara.
STORY- (L’kavod Purim)
A relative of the Ksav Sofer, who happens to be a red-head, tells over this story:
Growing up, the Ksav Sofer was a mischievous child who loved a good laugh.
One day he decided to pull a little prank on his father. He began walking down the main street of town, and whenever he encountered someone with a red beard he told him "My father would like to see you in his office today at 4:00 pm."
At precisely 4:00 that afternoon, the Chasam Sofer opened the door to his waiting room, and to his surprise, there sat about 30 red bearded men sitting there waiting to be called in. Meanwhile, the young Ksav Sofer stood in the corner laughing himself to tears. In appreciation for the joke and his son's youthful spirit, his father took him aside and gave him a 'Bracha' that he should be 'Zocheh' to have red-heads as descendants.... and so it was. Many of his grand-children have red hair!!
JOKES -
1) Pacing back and forth, a man was getting really anxious about his imminent operation.
His wife asked him: "What's the matter? Why are you getting so worked up?"
He replied: "I heard one of the nurses say 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure you'll be all right.'"
"She was just trying to comfort you!" said his wife. "What's so frightening about that?"
"She was talking to the surgeon!"
2) The Hebrew School teacher was describing how Lot 's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Josh interrupted. "My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"