Tetzaveh (You Shall Command) Ex. 27
Torah Portion: Tetzaveh (You are to order) Sh’mot (Exodus) 27:20-30:10
HafTorah: Ezekiel 43:10-27
New Testament: Philippians 4:10-20
Tonight we read the Torah section of Tetzaveh or “You Command.” Then we will celebrate the holiday of Purim which begins when Sabbath ends. There is one thing that is similar in each of these events. In this Torah section the name of Moses never occurs. It is the only section from Exodus 1:1 through the end of Deuteronomy that does not contain his name. In the book of Esther the name of G-d never appears. There was much discussion when both the Jewish canon and the Christian canon were adapted on if this book should be included or not, mainly because G-d’s name does not appear. However, as we read the book we can easily see G-d at work arranging events to save His people who are under threat of annihilation from the Persian Empire. They were being crushed under the weight of these threats.