Shabbat Greetings
Parashat Tetzaveh opens with an unusual command: “V’atah tetzaveh” — “And YOU shall command.” From this point on, Moses’ name disappears from the portion entirely. The leader who brought light to the world seems hidden, operating behind the scenes.
At the same time, the portion begins with the command to light the menorah (the 7-branched candlelabra), using pure olive oil, so that a flame burns constantly. Light that doesn’t call attention to itself. Light that works quietly, faithfully, every day.
This tension, between hiddenness and illumination, is the perfect bridge to Purim. Purim is the holiday where God’s name is famously absent from the Megillah. No open miracles. No splitting seas. Instead, coincidences pile up, timing aligns just right, and what looks like randomness slowly reveals a divine choreography. God, like Moses in Tetzaveh, is there precisely by being unseen. And yet, Purim is anything but quiet. It’s noisy, joyful, costumed, a little chaotic. We drink, laugh, give gifts, feed others, and celebrate wildly. Why all the joy if God is hidden? Because Purim teaches us that hidden light is still light.
The High Priest’s garments in Tetzaveh are described as “l’chavod u’l’tiferet”, for honor and for beauty. On Purim, we wear costumes, external layers that conceal who we are. But paradoxically, those costumes allow us to express joy more freely, to give more generously, to drop our usual inhibitions. What’s hidden on the outside often reveals something deeper on the inside.
Purim reminds us that even when God feels hidden, even when clarity is masked, we are never without guidance. And Tetzaveh reminds us that our job is to keep lighting the Menorah anyway in order to bring holiness, kindness, and commitment into the world, even when we don’t see the full picture. So as we move from the quiet, steady flame of Tetzaveh into the exuberant celebration of Purim, we learn this powerful truth: The deepest light doesn’t always announce itself; sometimes it dances in disguise. May we each merit to see the hidden goodness in our lives, to be a source of light for others even when unnoticed, and to celebrate Purim with true joy, generosity, and gratitude. Chag Purim Sameach
SHABBAT SHALOM