Someone really important is missing from this week’s Parsha!
Search for Moshe’s name and you won’t find it. The Ba’al Haturim confirms that every Parsha from the time that Moshe is born until the last one contains his name, except for Tetzaveh.
The Ba’al Haturim sees this as a subtle fulfilment of Moshe’s wish in Parshat Ki Tissa to have his name wiped out - if Hashem destroys Bnei Yisrael in response to the Golden Calf. The Shach agrees - seeing Moshe’s statement to be self-denigrating - not befitting of a Tzaddik and leader of his stature. Moshe gets ‘punished’ by disappearing from this Parsha.
Rav Aviner has a very different take. Moshe Rabbeinu, he explains, is the ultimate educator and therefore affirms that, in raising Am Yisrael, there are times when it is crucial to be present but, no less importantly, there are times when he must recede into the background. This is what gives space for the independent growth of the student/employee/intern/child - in our case - the Nation. In Parshat Tetzaveh, Moshe takes a step back so that the Nation can step forward independently and feel worthy - confident in the power of ‘standing on its own two feet’.
How do we behave when the teacher has left the classroom? How do we act when the boss is not in the office? How do we perform when the coach steps out for a moment? It’s these moments that define where we stand vis a vis our internal growth and motivation.
Just as Moshe is absent from Parshat Tetzaveh, Hashem is ‘absent’ from the Megillah. Our Sages identify Purim as the seminal moment when we accepted the Torah of our own volition. In the darkness of the Churban, we stepped forward to affirm our relationship with Hashem and His Torah.
Am Yisrael has experienced tragic moments of ‘Hester Panim’ this week. May we find the strength to step forward boldly in this darkness, grow as we desperately need to and speed up the ultimate redemption with the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash filled with Hashem’s light.
L’ilui Nishmoteihem HaKdoshot shel Elan Aryeh Ganeles Hy”d and Hallel Menachem v’Yagel Yaakov Yaniv Hy”d
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