This week we read the Torah portion of Tetzaveh, in which the Torah describes the elaborate details for the priestly vestments to be used in consecrating the High Priest for service. From the finest linen, richest stones, and majestic colors, the holy dress is to be made including a robe, headdress, tunic, and breastplate. This breastplate had twelve precious stones, arranged in four rows of three, upon which the names of the tribes were engraved: "The stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve in their names, engraved, each person with his name on it, for the twelve tribes" (Exodus 28:21).
And, inside the breastplate, a later verse instructs, "And you shall place in the breastplate of judgment the urim and the tumim, so that they are over Aaron's heart when he comes before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall carry the instrument of decision for the children of Israel on his heart before the Lord always" (Exodus 28:30).
While the High Priest's wearing of the actual breastplate was seen as atonement for the Court's mistakes in judgment, the urim and tumim inside the breastplate seem to dispense judgment of their own. This, of course, baffled the commentators in all ages. Through some sort of divine communication, decisions were magically revealed and judgments rendered. Just what are these items and how could they independently dispense judgment?
According to Rashi, the urim and tumim were represented by the inscription of the four letter name of God, which were placed in the folds of the breastpiece. Furthermore, he says, when the Jewish people needed to know something of great import, the urim and tumim could be consulted to reveal the will of God, as in the verse, "Before Elazar the priest, [Joshua] will stand and seek from him the judgment of the urim" (Numbers 27:21). Through the urim and tumim, the breastpiece would illuminate the light (ur) and clarify its message. This, the Talmud explains, is the source of its name: urim being related to 'or', the Hebrew word for light; tumim being related to 'tam' meaning perfect (Yoma 73b).
For the Spanish commentator, Ibn Ezra, the urim and tumim were objects of silver and gold like those used by astrologers to divine the thoughts in the one consulting them.
Maimonides, on the other hand, describes the phenomenon in much greater detail, distinguishing the urim and tumim from the other items mentioned as part of the artisans' craft or the command in making the Tabernacle. Rather, he suggests, they were a mystery transmitted to Moses directly from God that were made in heaven. With this premise, he continues "there were holy names (called tumim) by whose power the letters on the stones of the breastplates would light up for the priest to read. For example, when they asked 'who should lead the way for us to fight against the Canaanites?', the priest would concentrate on the Divine names which are the urim, and the letters would light up to his eyes... and he saw the name of Judah light up, along with the Hebrew letter yud of Levi, the letter ayin of Simeon, the lamedof Levi, and heh of Abraham…. And, there were other holy names there called tumim, through whose power the mind of the priest was perfected (the translation of tumim) in the knowledge of how to interpret the letters into proper words. This is one of the levels of Divine inspiration, lower than prophecy, and higher than a Heavenly voice."
This level of divine inspiration was one that was often consulted throughout Biblical times helping to illumine God's will. Some noted examples are upon the Israelites' conquering the Land of Israel from the Canaanites (above), the tribes' warring against Benjamin on account of evil deeds (Judges 20), Samuel's selecting Saul as king (I Samuel 10), and David's warring against the Philistines (I Samuel 23). Prophets were not always able to receive prophecy, yet the urim and tumim guaranteed revelation to the high priest, no matter who he was or what he did. In each such case, the reading of the urim and tumim led our ancestors to act on account of the findings and to change their lives in substantial and impactful ways.
Imagine, if like the priests, we too placed God's mystery in the folds of our breastplate, so close to our heart…. What would it be like if we too could hope to find God's revelatory messages and truth emanating from our breastpiece; if we too could see the light of the letters and unscramble the words of God's message to find inspiration?
Perhaps we can. Isn't it worth trying?
Ken Yehi Ratzon. So may it be.
Shabbat Shalom