“You shall place the Urim Vetumim within the Choshen.”
According to Rashi, the Urim Vetumim was a Divine Name that was placed between the folds of the Choshen. According to the Rambam the Urim Vetumim were in the stones of the Choshen itself. Through the Urim Vetumim, the leader of Bnei Yisroel would be able to inquire of Hashem about matters of national concern.
Our sages explain that the letters from the names of the Tribes would light up to spell out the answer from on High. The Kohen would need Divine insight to arrange the letters to decipher their meaning.
The word חשן (Choshen) shares the same letters as נחש (snake), the representation of evil and negativity in the world. Both words also share the same Gematria as משיח – Moshiach.
Golus was brought about by our sins, creating an apparent reality associated with the snake. The Geulah and Moshiach, represented in the form of a Gematria, is ever-present within the world, but hidden so that we do not see it.
The same is true in our personal moments of darkness as well. Whilst outwardly we experience darkness, latent within it is the light of opportunity and hidden blessing. Like the Urim Vetumim, we need to decipher and decode our perceived reality to see its true nature.
Whether we see נחש or חשן - the snake or the Divine Spirit - is in our control. If we open our eyes, with light and precision, we can see the reality of Moshiach and redemption, if we choose to interpret it for the good.
