Making sense of the sedra: Tetzaveh
The best defence is a good offence
This year’s Super Bowl final was watched by over a hundred million people in the United States, making it the most viewed broadcast since the 1969 moon landing. But what made it even more remarkable was that Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism purchased a thirty-second advert during the break which featured Clarence B. Jones, the man who helped Martin Luther King write the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The emotive advert aimed to inspire more people to stand up to antisemitism or Jewish hate and to join the fight against all hate.
It is clearly a message that also needs to be shared in the UK, given that in 2023 antisemitism reached new levels with the highest total of antisemitic incidents ever reported to the CST in a single calendar year. These figures are directly linked to the terrorist atrocities in Israel with 66 percent of instances occurring on or after October 7.
Whilst we must do everything we can to combat this oldest form of hatred and expect all those who have it in their power to do the same, is there an additional response that can be generated within us?
Although Moses’ name is conspicuously absent from this week’s parsha of Tetzaveh, he is tasked by God to instruct the Jewish people to donate the materials necessary for the Tabernacle (the portable Temple). To explain Moses’ role in this, the Midrash expounds a verse in Proverbs: “There is gold, and an abundance of gems, but lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.” Gold refers to the gifts that everyone brought, the gems and precious stones that the princes of each tribe donated, while the lips of knowledge allude to Moses’ unique ability to speak to God face to face and transmit His words to the people.
It is inconceivable that this idea was solely for Moses’ benefit because it possesses timeless wisdom. Our greatest challenge is to learn to appreciate what we have, to realise the value that we find in our own hands. As the recipients of the Torah – the most precious gift to mankind – we acquired knowledge of the revealed will of God. Through the mitzvot we are not only aware of what is Divinely expected of us, our responsibilities and our mission in life, but also we have been provided with the means to connect with God, bridging the gap between our finite world and the infinite realms.
The old adage ‘the best defence is a good offence’ is true and perhaps one of the best ways to combat antisemitism is to strengthen our own appreciation of Judaism and deepen our commitment to it. While we attempt to inspire others to stand up to Jewish hate, we must be equally determined to be inspired to live, learn and love our Judaism. Despite the figures, or perhaps because of them, we must remain proud Jews, vigilant but unafraid, and thankful to those who seek to protect us.
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