Morning Blessings-Tetzaveh & Moses-The Garments of Torah

The 7th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu. In many places in the Torah, we find the expression, “And God spoke to Moses to say.” The Torah existed before the world. Therefore, how is it possible for the Torah to contain such things as, “Timnah was the concubine of Eliphaz (Genesis 36:12),” and similar facts? How could these accounts have existed before the world?

Actually, the entire Torah is God’s Name. It originally contained combinations of letters and secret mysteries that, “No eye has uncovered (Job 28:7).” In its sequence of descent to this lowly world, the Torah must become clothed in a material garment, which often consists of stories. When God grants a person knowledge, understanding and intelligence, uncovering the mask that blinds his eyes, he can see the wonders of God’s Torah. The people on this level are few, however, and the majority only understand the Torah according to its simple meaning (Zohar 1:153a).

This is the meaning of the expression, “And God spoke to Moses to say.” The Word came to Moses in such a way that he was able “to say” it to the people, the Children of Israel. It was given to him so that they should be able to accept it, even the lowliest of them. The Torah contains many other hidden things, concealed mysteries, and secrets. (Kedushat Levi, Beshalach)

“Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, Who clothes the naked.” God not only close us, people, He close the words of the Torah in garments that make them accessible to us. When we recite this blessing each morning, we are remembering that we have access only to the garments of Torah, and pray for the “knowledge, understanding and intelligence,” in the Amidah in the 4th blessing, “Insight.”