Ritual takes moments in our lives and elevates them to a higher level. This is why we mark graduations with ceremony. We dress in caps and gowns, medieval regalia, and play special music. Weddings are much the same. The couple wears beautiful clothing, they exchange vows of commitment in the presence of a special officiant. Even a special dinner to celebrate a birthday is a ritual. After all, we could just let these moments pass.
But we don’t. We acknowledge them as special and mark them as sacred through ritual.
This week’s Torah portion reinforces this notion with a description of the ritual of anointing the High Priest. Aaron and his sons dress in elaborate costumes of linen and wool, accented with gold and jewels. They follow an elaborate ritual of investiture, involving sacrifice, incense and anointing.
Our Torah portion points out that this ritual has a higher purpose, “For there I will meet with you, and there I will speak with you, and there I will meet with the Israelites, and it shall be sanctified by My Presence.”
Perhaps the ritual cultivates an awareness that enables the connection between God and the Jewish people to be forged. So may it be for us, that through ritual and awareness we strengthen our relationships with others and with God.
Tetzaveh — Exodus 27:20-30:10, The Parashat Hashavua for Saturday, February 16, 2019
February 15, 2019 by Dean Kertesz •
Ritual takes moments in our lives and elevates them to a higher level. This is why we mark graduations with ceremony. We dress in caps and gowns, medieval regalia, and play special music. Weddings are much the same. The couple wears beautiful clothing, they exchange vows of commitment in the presence of a special officiant. Even a special dinner to celebrate a birthday is a ritual. After all, we could just let these moments pass.
But we don’t. We acknowledge them as special and mark them as sacred through ritual.
This week’s Torah portion reinforces this notion with a description of the ritual of anointing the High Priest. Aaron and his sons dress in elaborate costumes of linen and wool, accented with gold and jewels. They follow an elaborate ritual of investiture, involving sacrifice, incense and anointing.
Our Torah portion points out that this ritual has a higher purpose, “For there I will meet with you, and there I will speak with you, and there I will meet with the Israelites, and it shall be sanctified by My Presence.”
Perhaps the ritual cultivates an awareness that enables the connection between God and the Jewish people to be forged. So may it be for us, that through ritual and awareness we strengthen our relationships with others and with God.