Sidrah
Parashah of the week: Pekudei
“The stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, corresponding to their names; engraved like seals, each with its name, for the twelve tribes” Exodus 39:14
March 27, 2025 10:35
“The stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, corresponding to their names; engraved like seals, each with its name, for the twelve tribes” Exodus 39:14
March 27, 2025 10:35The Torah describes the High Priest’s breastplate of judgment (choshen mishpat), comprising a gold front plate adorned with 12 precious stones, each representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Rabbeinu Bachya (1255-1340) describes how the colour of each stone reflects a characteristic of one of the tribes (Exodus 28:15). For instance, Reuben’s stone was red to symbolise “the blush on his face” when he confessed to his sin involving his father’s maidservant, Bilhah (Genesis 35:22), whereas the stone of the tribe of Levi, which “glowed like red-hot coal”, represented wisdom.
According to the Zohar, despite the distinct nature of the stones, and the tribes which they represent, on a higher level they form a single stone (Exodus21). This is the meaning of Jacob’s taking “some of the stones of the place” and putting them under his head just before his famous vision (Genesis 28:11).
Tradition holds that these stones became one, the foundation stone of “God’s house” (Genesis 28:22). For the Zohar, all stones become subsumed in the Divine presence, known as the “Stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24).
This symbolism carries profound significance. Earlier in Exodus, the Israelites are commanded: “Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of justice (choshen mishpat) over his heart, when he enters the sanctuary, for remembrance before God at all times” (Exodus 28:29).
Aaron’s role as High Priest was to represent the entire people before God and to seek justice. This is the role of all leaders; to seek justice by understanding the diverse natures and different perspectives of the people they represent, to articulate shared values and discover points of commonality, to create a foundation stone on which a just society can be founded.
The idea of distinct stones forming one stone encapsulates this ideal.
The ideal can also only be achieved by elevating individuals, rather than seeking to impose order from the outside. Aaron is commanded to keep the names of the children of Israel upon his heart at the very moment he enters into the inner sanctum, when he advocates on their behalf.
He represents one people, but that people is made up of individual souls, precious stones, who view the world and live differently. Justice requires keeping that truth in mind.