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Haftarah Parashat T’tzavveh

Ezekiel 43:10 - 27

43:10 אַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם הַגֵּ֤ד אֶת־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת וְיִכָּלְמ֖וּ מֵעֲו‍ֹנֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וּמָדְד֖וּ אֶת־תָּכְנִֽית׃

43:11 וְאִֽם־נִכְלְמ֞וּ מִכֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֗וּ צוּרַ֣ת הַבַּ֡יִת וּתְכוּנָת֡וֹ וּמוֹצָאָ֡יו וּמוֹבָאָ֣יו וְֽכָל־צֽוּרֹתָ֡ו וְאֵ֣ת כָּל־חֻקֹּתָיו֩ וְכָל־צורתי [צ֨וּרֹתָ֤יו] וְכָל־תורתו [תּוֹרֹתָיו֙] הוֹדַ֣ע אוֹתָ֔ם וּכְתֹ֖ב לְעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם וְיִשְׁמְר֞וּ אֶת־כָּל־צוּרָת֛וֹ וְאֶת־כָּל־חֻקֹּתָ֖יו וְעָשׂ֥וּ אוֹתָֽם׃

43:12 זֹ֖את תּוֹרַ֣ת הַבָּ֑יִת עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָ֠הָר כָּל־גְּבֻל֞וֹ סָבִ֤יב׀ סָבִיב֙ קֹ֣דֶשׁ קָדָשִׁ֔ים הִנֵּה־זֹ֖את תּוֹרַ֥ת הַבָּֽיִת׃

43:13 וְאֵ֨לֶּה מִדּ֤וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ בָּֽאַמּ֔וֹת אַמָּ֥ה אַמָּ֖ה וָטֹ֑פַח וְחֵ֨יק הָאַמָּ֜ה וְאַמָּה־רֹ֗חַב וּגְבוּלָ֨הּ אֶל־שְׂפָתָ֤הּ סָבִיב֙ זֶ֣רֶת הָאֶחָ֔ד וְזֶ֖ה גַּ֥ב הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

43:14 וּמֵחֵ֨יק הָאָ֜רֶץ עַד־הָעֲזָרָ֤ה הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה֙ שְׁתַּ֣יִם אַמּ֔וֹת וְרֹ֖חַב אַמָּ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וּמֵהֳעֲזָרָ֨ה הַקְּטַנָּ֜ה עַד־הָעֲזָרָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע אַמּ֔וֹת וְרֹ֖חַב הָאַמָּֽה׃

43:15 וְהַֽהַרְאֵ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣ע אַמּ֑וֹת ומהאראיל [וּמֵהָאֲרִיאֵ֣ל] וּלְמַ֔עְלָה הַקְּרָנ֖וֹת אַרְבַּֽע׃

43:16 והאראיל [וְהָאֲרִיאֵ֗ל] שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ אֹ֔רֶךְ בִּשְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה רֹ֑חַב רָב֕וּעַ אֶ֖ל אַרְבַּ֥עַת רְבָעָֽיו׃

43:17 וְהָעֲזָרָ֞ה אַרְבַּ֧ע עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה אֹ֗רֶךְ בְּאַרְבַּ֤ע עֶשְׂרֵה֙ רֹ֔חַב אֶ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣עַת רְבָעֶ֑יהָ וְהַגְּבוּל סָבִ֨יב אוֹתָ֜הּ חֲצִ֣י הָאַמָּ֗ה וְהַֽחֵיק־לָ֤הּ אַמָּה֙ סָבִ֔יב וּמַעֲלֹתֵ֖הוּ פְּנ֥וֹת קָדִֽים׃

43:18 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י בֶּן־אָדָם֙ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה אֵ֚לֶּה חֻקּ֣וֹת הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּי֖וֹם הֵעָֽשׂוֹת֑וֹ לְהַעֲל֤וֹת עָלָיו֙ עוֹלָ֔ה וְלִזְרֹ֥ק עָלָ֖יו דָּֽם׃

43:19 וְנָתַתָּ֣ה אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֵם֩ מִזֶּ֨רַע צָד֜וֹק הַקְּרֹבִ֣ים אֵלַ֗י נְאֻ֛ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה לְשָֽׁרְתֵ֑נִי פַּ֥ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֖ר לְחַטָּֽאת׃

43:20 וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ מִדָּמ֗וֹ וְנָ֨תַתָּ֜ה עַל־אַרְבַּ֤ע קַרְנֹתָיו֙ וְאֶל־אַרְבַּע֙ פִּנּ֣וֹת הָעֲזָרָ֔ה וְאֶֽל־הַגְּב֖וּל סָבִ֑יב וְחִטֵּאתָ֥ אוֹת֖וֹ וְכִפַּרְתָּֽהוּ׃

43:21 וְלָ֣קַחְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת הַפָּ֣ר הַֽחַטָּ֑את וּשְׂרָפוֹ֙ בְּמִפְקַ֣ד הַבַּ֔יִת מִח֖וּץ לַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃

43:22 וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י תַּקְרִ֛יב שְׂעִיר־עִזִּ֥ים תָּמִ֖ים לְחַטָּ֑את וְחִטְּאוּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר חִטְּא֖וּ בַּפָּֽר׃

43:23 בְּכַלּוֹתְךָ֖ מֵֽחַטֵּ֑א תַּקְרִיב֙ פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֣ר תָּמִ֔ים וְאַ֥יִל מִן־הַצֹּ֖אן תָּמִֽים׃

43:24 וְהִקְרַבְתָּ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְהִשְׁלִ֨יכוּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים עֲלֵיהֶם֙ מֶ֔לַח וְהֶעֱל֥וּ אוֹתָ֛ם עֹלָ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

43:25 שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה שְׂעִיר־חַטָּ֖את לַיּ֑וֹם וּפַ֧ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֛ר וְאַ֥יִל מִן־הַצֹּ֖אן תְּמִימִ֥ים יַעֲשֽׂוּ׃

43:26 שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים יְכַפְּרוּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְטִֽהֲר֖וּ אֹת֑וֹ וּמִלְא֖וּ ידו [יָדָֽיו]׃

43:27 וִֽיכַלּ֖וּ אֶת־הַיָּמִ֑ים וְהָיָה֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֜י וָהָ֗לְאָה יַעֲשׂ֨וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ אֶת־עוֹלֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ וְאֶת־שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֔ם וְרָצִ֣אתִי אֶתְכֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהֹוִֽה׃

The commentary about the connection between the Haftarah and Torah reading was written by

The parasha describes the ordination ceremony of Aaron and his sons. Taking place in the desert following the exodus from Egypt and the revelation at Sinai, the ceremony is described in details which we today associate with celebrity event reportage, including a meticulous description of the clothing worn (the vestments of priesthood), of the menu in all its particulars (sacrificial animals), and the setting (the altar at Tent of Meeting). The priestly vestments were fashioned by skilled craftspeople – hakhmei lev (wise of heart). And in fact, Aaron was expected to make decisions from his heart: “Thus Aaron shall carry the instrument of decision for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord at all times.” (Ex. 28:29) Ezekiel’s prophecy which comprises this haftarah, delivered in Babylon to the exiles following the destruction of the First Temple. It is perceived as a prophecy of hope, including a detailed description of a restored Temple in Jerusalem and its dedication by future priests. Midrash Tanhuma (Tzav 14) states that in the “reading of the plan of the Temple” it is “as if they were [in fact] occupied with the building of the Temple [itself]. Ezekiel, however, begins his prophecy with a caveat. …”describe the Temple to the House of Israel, and let them measure its design. But let them be ashamed (v’yikalmu) of their iniquities. When they are ashamed (nich’lemu) of all they have done, make known to them the plan of the Temple and its layout …” “Shame” is a sentiment centered in the heart. It is the beginning of improved behavior and a restoration of lost affection/love. The heart is the organ of decision which guides Aaron in his service before God, and it is the instrument through which the House of Israel can channel its shame to return to God’s favor.

Natalie Barkan

Natalie was the first girl to celebrate a Shabbat morning bat mitzvah at Emmanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City and the first woman to read Torah at the “upstairs” adult service. She supported herself through graduate school by teaching bar/bat mitzvah students and today still enjoys chanting Torah and serving as shlichat hatzibur at Hod Ve-Hadar congregation in Kfar Saba. Natalie has lived in Israel for over 30 years studying and teaching Judaica in various frameworks. She serves on the executive board of The Abraham Fund Initiatives, working to promote equality and co-existence between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel. She is married to Dani and the mother of three sons. Natalie has known Susie Dvoskin for 20 years, celebrating Rosh Hodesh together and praying at Hod Ve-Hadar. Five years ago, Natalie took the big plunge and did her first women’s triathlon. Susie is her inspiration and mentor, not only in sport, but in the art of positive thinking! She has participated in this project out of a deep love and affection for Susie.

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Susie Dvoskin

Susie passed away peacefully in May, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. She remained active throughout. The autobiography which follows was written in 2015 and the website is a part of her legacy:
I have been a teacher in the field of special and Jewish education for more than 40 years. I’ve taught young children in day care settings, in the United States and mostly in Israel, typical and atypical teenagers preparing for their bar and bat mitzvah, typical and atypical adults expanding their knowledge and involvement in Judaism. I am an active member of Kehilat Hod ve-Hadar, an egalitarian Masorti (Conservative(congregation in Kfar Sabah, Israel. I love teaching. I love reaching out to everyone. I love adapting material to individuals. I love the communication and learning that flows between us. I had my Bat Mitzvah when I was 35, so it’s never too late to start. With this website we reach out to all of you, wherever you may be, to help involve you in your Judaism, to be part of your Jewish community.

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