The Mathematics and Mechanics of the Me'il

Side 1 WEEKLY MISHNAH on the PARSHAH Parshas Tetzaveh 5771 is listed in Vayakhel and Pekudei. When translating the THE MATHEMATICS AND Me’il section in parshas Tetzaveh, the Targum renders the .between them – ּבֵינֵיהֹון as ּבְתֹוכָ ם MECHANICS OF The Me’il aforementioned term A particularly unique feature of the Me’il (one of the This appears to concur with Rashi’s approach that the priestly garments worn by the High Priest, usually rendered bells were laid out between the pomegranates. However, as “robe”) was its spectacular bottom. The Torah in this in parshas Pekudei, when the passuk speaks of the actual week’s parshah tells us that the hem of this garment was fashioning of the Me’il, the Targum employs a different which means “within.” This rendering seems to ,ּבְ גֹו :festooned with an arrangement of interesting ornaments: word follow the Ramban’s opinion that the bells were contained inside the pomegranates. The apparent contradiction begs וְעָׂשִיתָ ...רִ ּמֹנֵי ּתְכֵלֶת ןוְַארְּגָמָ וְתֹולַעַתׁשָנִי עַל ׁשּולָיו סָבִ יב ּופַעֲמֹנֵי for resolution, obviously: Why did the Targum follow זָהָבּבְתֹוכָם סָבִ יב. “And you shall fashion... pomegranates of blue, purple, Rashi’s explanation by the instructions to make the Me’il, and scarlet thread on its bottom, all around; and golden but chose the Ramban’s approach when the directives bells in their midst, all around” (Shemos 28:33). were carried out? in their midst). Were the The plot only thickens if we turn to another classic) ּבְתֹוכָ ם The operative word here is bells supposed to be arranged among the pomegranates, Aramaic commentary – the Targum Yonasan. In parshas in simple, alternating fashion, or were the bells supposed Tetzaveh, he provides a tally of the bells employed in the to reside literally within their fruit-shaped associates? Me’il: seventy-one in total. But in parshas Pekudei, the The issue is the subject of a dispute between Rashi and total given in the Targum Yonasan comes out to seventy- the Ramban, with Rashi understanding that the bells were two! Seemingly, something just doesn’t add up. to alternate between the pomegranates (i.e., one bell in As periodically occurs in the course of Torah analysis, between every two pomegranates), while the Ramban one query serves to answer the other. Such is the case contends that the bells were to be placed inside of the here, as well, as we shall soon see. pomegranates. BETTER LEFT FORGOTTEN A TARGUM TEASER The Bad Kodesh (parshas Tetzaveh) reminds us of a An issue that arises is that this seems to be the subject of principle that can prove quite helpful in clarifying our a dispute involving the Targum Onkelos – and himself. issues. The principle emerges from a halachah mentioned As we know, the sections concerning the Mishkan in a Mishnah in Rosh Hashanah (3:2): (Tabernacle) and the bigdei kehunah (priestly garments) ּכָל הַּׁשֹופָרֹות ּכְׁשֵרִין חּוץ מִּׁשֶל ּפָרָ ה. .are recorded in the Torah in two “installments,” so to speak The directives are the subject of the parshiyos of Terumah “All shofars are kosher (i.e., the horn of any animal can and Tetzaveh, while the actual production of these items be used to fulfill the mitzvah of blowing shofar on Rosh Kindly take a moment to study MISHNAS CHAYIM in the merit of לזכר נשמת ציפא רבקה בת ברוך ע"ה a fellow Jew who passed away with no relatives ,מלכה בת דוד ע"ה to arrange Torah study on behalf of her neshamah. MISHNAS CHAYIM is brought to you by CHEVRAH LOMDEI MISHNAH, a network of Torah scholars dedicated to bringing the merits of Mishnah study to the greater Jewish public. Encompassing Mishnah, Gemara, and a variety of other services, CHEVRAH LOMDEI MISHNAH primarily assists mourners interested in acquiring the merit of Torah study for their loved ones. Side 2 WEEKLY MISHNAH on the PARSHAH For background purposes, we present here a brief fourthliability and and fifth a source days, ofthe accusation heavenly shouldbodies notand be creatures used! synopsis of the Creation schedule, in which the items manifests itself in אֵ יןקַטֵ יגֹור הנַעַׂשֶ סַנֵיגֹור This idea of created on any given day of the Six Days of Creation our issue, as well. It can help to account for the apparent areSiyum mentioned: Mishnayos... ofdiscrepancies the air and insea the were Targumim. formed, We respectively. had been perplexedThey do Day #1: Heaven and earth (and light). as to why the Targum Onkelos seemed to indicate in Day #2: Firmament separating between the upper parshas Tetzaveh that the bells were supposed to be next waterson and the time.lower waters (the latter being the yam notto the incur pomegranates, tumah, and whileso, seemingly, in Pekudei a itmoon-rock seems that jug,they [sea]). were placed inside of them. However, something major Dayt.JTIOBI #3: BOETrees,(FNBSB grass, and all vegetation. transpired in between these two parshiyos – namely, TUVEZTFSWJDFT Day #4: Heavenly bodies of illumination (sun, moon, orthe a sinsharkskin of the goldenpurse wouldcalf. Now, be tumahthe gold-free. of However,the bells – t$PNQMFUJPOPGFOUJSF stars).Shishah Sedarim which are supposed to act as a “defender,” “reminding” Dayt$PNQMFUJPO #5: FlyingPG creatures and denizens of the sea. Hashem to look favorably on His people – has become DayNJTTJOH #6:masechtos Animals and man. leather-productsan “accuser.” When from issuing animals the –command created toon fashionthe sixth the t,BEEJTISFDJUBM Me’il in parshas Tetzaveh, the bells were to be placed in in Keilim (17:14) goes through the open, between the pomegranates. Once the gold has בהסכמת גדולי Mishnah הרבנים Theשליט”אr each day of Creation, noting on which days materials daybecome – would a liability, be susceptible it becomes to tumah necessary. to “hide” them susceptible Mishnah to defilement study in memory were created:of your loved ones inside the pomegranates – an adjustment reflected by the .Targum’s change of terminology in parshas Pekudei וְיֵשׁ בְּמַ ה ׁ ֶּ שנִּבְרָ א בְּ יוֹם הָרִ אשׁ וֹן טֻמְאָ ה, בַּ ׁ ֵּ שנִי אֵ ין בּוֹ טֻמְאָ ה, The seeming inconsistency in the Targum Yonasan’s בַּ ּשְׁלִישִׁ י יֶשׁ בּוֹ טֻמְאָ ה, בָּרְבִיעִ י ּובַחֲמִישׁ ִ י אֵ ין 732.364.7029 בָּהֶ ם טֻמְאָ ה... ChevrahLomdeiMishnah.org The Problem with Seaweed totals can likewise be attributed to this progression of שׁ ֶ נִּבְרָ א בְּ יוֹם הַ ּשׁ ִּׁשִי, טָמֵ א. events. In parshas Tetzaveh, prior to the sin of the golden “From things created on day one, there are those calf, the bells were supposed to be displayed externally, that are susceptible to tumah. Nothing created on day as explained above. As Rashi had described, this entailed Hashanah), except for (that) of a cow.” Upon delving into some of the intricacies of this two is susceptible to tumah. There are items created on one gold bell in between every two pomegranates. Simple math will render the intended total. Let us say, for Theday Gemarathree with (Rosh tumah Hashanah-susceptibility. 26a) Daysdiscusses four variousand five example, that we were arranging apples and oranges in reasonscontain why no tumaha cow’s-susceptible horn is disqualified items... but for creations shofar use. of topic,this manner, a point withto consider an apple would on either be the side various of one forms orange. of Theday sagesix are Ula tumah declares-susceptible.” that such a horn hearkens back to a particular dark time in our history, bringing certain Suppose there were three apples; that would give us a total unwantedIn all, memories days one, into three focus: and six contain tumah- of two oranges among the three apples (apple, orange, susceptible items, while days two, four and five do not. seaapple, vegetation orange, (generally apple). There referred were to a astotal kelp of or seventy-two seaweed). עּולָאָאמַר: הַיְינּו טַעְמָ א... לְפִי ׁשֶאֵיןקַטֵיגֹור נַעַׂשֶה סַנֵיגֹור. The Bartenura fills in the details: Generally speaking, pomegranates. If there was one bell in between every two “Ulamaterials said: Thisbecome is thetumah reason...-susceptible because when the ‘accuser’they are pomegranates, that would produce a total of seventy-one shouldfashioned not serveinto vesselsas the ‘defender.’” or clothing – that is, depending Althoughbells. possibly not the most fashionable by current Roshon what Hashanah the materials is a time are. where On wethe beseech first day, Hashem the earth to But by the time we come to Pekudei, the landscape has lookwas tocreated; our merits earthenware and remember vessels us favorably.are susceptible The last to changed. Due to the golden calf, the bells must now go thingtumah we. Daywould number want is two to conjure saw the up fashioningimages of oneof theof standards,inside the peoplepomegranates, did utilize not (atin between one point them. or another)This now thefirmament most heinous separating of crimes. the A cow’swaters; horn nothing would there do just that necessitates exactly one bell for every pomegranate. that,could for incur it was tumah the .form The ofthird a cow day thatsaw heldthe creation center stageof the Seeing as there were a total of seventy-two pomegranates, intrees; the cheitwooden ha’eigel vessels (sin are of susceptible the golden tocalf). tumah The. Onshofar the thethis abundant would obviously fibrous materialproduce supplied a total of seventy-two is supposed to act in our defense; one that would be a corresponding bells. To sponsor MISHNAS CHAYIM, to distribute it to your shul, or to receive this publication via email, please contact CHEVRAH LOMDEI MISHNAH at 732-364-7029 or [email protected]..

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