And you shall command (teztave) the Children of Israel (Ex. 27:20)
The Hebrew word "tetzaveh" is related to "tzavta," which means connection or bond. In other words, G-d commanded Moses to be always connected to the Jewish people. Because Moses was dedicated to the Jews to the point of mesirat nefesh (giving up one's soul), he merited that his strength would remain with them forever. (Sefat Emet)
To cause a lamp to burn continuously...outside the veil (Ex. 27:20-21)
The Divine light within every Jew must illuminate at all times, not only in the "Tent of Meeting," the synagogue or the study hall, and not only when he prays and studies Torah. Rather, the intention is to cause G-d's light to shine even "outside the veil" - in the street, in one's day-to-day affairs, and in all of one's social interactions. (Yalkut Eliezer)
And that the breastplate not be loosened from the Ephod (Ex. 28:28)
The breastplate was worn on the chest of the High Priest over his heart. The numerical equivalent of "Ephod" is 85, the same as the word "peh," meaning mouth. In commanding that the breastplate, symbolic of the heart, not be loosened from the ephod, symbolizing the mouth, the Torah is giving us a hint that a person's heart and mouth should always be in sync with each other. (Degel Machane Efraim)
Reprinted from the Parshat Tetzave 5761/2001 edition of L’Chaim Weekly.
