One of the more famous objects worn by the high priest is his breastplate, the Urim v’Tumim, literally, the “Lights and the Perfection” (Exodus 28:30). On its surface were 12 stones, and on each stone was spelled out a tribe of Israel. The Hebrew name Urim v’Tumim teaches us much about its deeper meaning.
Urim comes from the Hebrew word or (light). At times, the high priest would turn to the Urim v’Tumim for advice. Letters from the Urim v’Tumim would light up in response.
Tumim expands on this idea. The term is similar to tamim, a pious person who walks on the “correct” path. As the letters lit up (urim), they needed to be read correctly, in proper order (tumim).
The Vilna Gaon points out that a misreading occurred when Eli the high priest turned to the Urim v’Tumim to understand whether Channah, who was praying for a son, was sincere. The letters shin, kuf, reish, and heh lit up. Eli mistakenly combined those letters and read it as “shikorah” (drunk), when he should have read it as “kesheirah” (kosher, morally upright), as she was absolutely sincere (I Samuel 1:13, 14; Aderet Eliyahu, I Samuel 1:13–16). Here, tumim must be joined with urim to avoid the message of the breastplate being misread with devastating consequences.
Perhaps, too, it can be suggested that tumim – which also means “whole” – teaches that the urim, the light to which it is connected, must be loving, as there is no wholeness without love. This is or ahavah (the light of love). Thus, after concluding the first of the morning blessings before Shema with the words Yotzer ha’meorot (the One Who forms lights), the next blessing begins ahavah rabbah (with great love).
For the high priest wearing the Urim v’Tumim, this message is critical. The priest is associated with Temple ritual, following specific detailed rules and regulations. These externalities, as crucial as they are, must be complemented by inner love. Hence, the Priestly Blessing before the benediction closes with the word love – “Blessed are You, the Lord…[Who has] commanded us to bless His people Israel with love [ahavah].”
While the high priest wears the Urim v’Tumim, our challenge is to live its message: after all, we are called a mamlechet kohanim, a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6) whose goal is to bring light, whole light, holistic light into the world: The urim that is tamim; the or that is loving. Or ahavah.
Candle lighting:
Parsha: Tetzaveh
Feb. 11 at 5:54 p.m.
