Torah of Symbolism

Summary of Parashat T'tzaveh

The children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil for the ner tamid "a constantly burning light," above the sanctuary. (27:20-21)
Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, are chosen to serve as priests. (28:1)
God instructs Moses to make special clothes for the priests. (28:2-43)
Aaron and his sons are ordained in a seven-day ceremony (29:1-29:46)
Aaron is commanded to burn incense on an acacia altar every morning and evening. (30:1-10)

The Exodus From Egypt (1:1-15:21)
1. God Remembers His People (1:1-2:25)
  1. Israel’s Suffering (1:1-22)
  2. The Birth of Moses (2:1-10)
  3. Moses Flees to Midian (2:11-25)
2. The Call of Moses (3:1-4:31)
3. Pharaoh Refuses to Let the Israelites Go (5:1-7:13)
4. God’s Judgment Against Egypt (7:14-11:10)
  1. First Plague: Water Turned to Blood (7:14-24)
  2. Second Plague: Frogs (7:25-8:15)
  3. Third Plague: Gnats (8:16-19)
  4. Fourth Plague: Flies (8:20-32)
  5. Fifth Plague: Against Livestock (9:1-7)
  6. Sixth Plague: Boils (9:8-12)
  7. Seventh Plague: Hail (9:13-35)
  8. Eighth Plague: Locusts (10:1-20)
  9. Ninth Plague: Darkness (10:21-29)
  10. Announcement of Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn (11:1-10)
5. The Passover (12:1-28)
6. Deliverance From Egypt (12:29-13:16)
7. Salvation at the Red Sea (13:17-15:21)
The Wilderness Testing (15:22-18:27)
1. The Waters of Marah (15:22-27)
2. The Manna and Quail (16:1-36)
3. The Waters of Meribah (17:1-7)
4. Victory over the Amalekites (17:8-16)
5. Organization of the People (18:1-27)
The Covenant at Sinai (19:1-24:18)
1. Preparation for the Covenant (19:1-25)
2. Proclamation of the Covenant (20:1-23:33)
  1. The Ten Commandments (20:1-21)
  2. Law of the Altar (20:22-26)
  3. Laws Regarding Slaves (21:1-11)
  4. Laws Regarding Violence (21:12-27)
  5. Laws Regarding Animals (21:28-36)
  6. Laws Regarding Property (22:1-15)
  7. Miscellaneous Laws (22:16-23:9)
  8. Sabbaths and Feasts (23:10-19)
  9. God’s Covenant Promises (23:20-33)
3. Israel Affirms the Covenant (24:1-18)
The Worship of Adonai (25:1-40:38)
1. God’s Instructions Concerning Worship (25:1-31:18)
  1. The Tabernacle and its Furnishings (25:1-27:21)
  2. The Priests and their Ministry (28:1-30:38)
  3. The Builders of the Tabernacle Appointed (31:1-11)
  4. The Sabbath a Sign of the Covenant (31:12-18)

בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֩ מִח֨וּץ לַפָּרֹ֜כֶת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָעֵדֻ֗ת יַעֲרֹךְ֩ אֹת֨וֹ אַהֲרֹ֧ן וּבָנָ֛יו מֵעֶ֥רֶב עַד־בֹּ֖קֶר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹ֣רֹתָ֔ם מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}

Exodus 27:21

Aaron and his sons shall set them up in the Tent of Meeting, outside the curtain which is over [the Ark of] the Pact, [to burn] from evening to morning before יהוה. It shall be a due from the Israelites for all time, throughout the ages.

שמות כ״ח:ב׳

וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ בִגְדֵי־קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֑יךָ לְכָב֖וֹד וּלְתִפְאָֽרֶת׃

Exodus 28:2

Make sacral vestments for your brother Aaron, for dignity and adornment.

שמות כ״ח:כ״ט

וְנָשָׂ֣א אַ֠הֲרֹ֠ן אֶת־שְׁמ֨וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל בְּחֹ֧שֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּ֛ט עַל־לִבּ֖וֹ בְּבֹא֣וֹ אֶל־הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְזִכָּרֹ֥ן לִפְנֵֽי־יְהֹוָ֖ה תָּמִֽיד׃

Exodus 28:29

Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over his heart, when he enters the sanctuary, for remembrance before יהוה at all times.

שמות כ״ח:ל׳

וְנָתַתָּ֞ אֶל־חֹ֣שֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּ֗ט אֶת־הָאוּרִים֙ וְאֶת־הַתֻּמִּ֔ים וְהָיוּ֙ עַל־לֵ֣ב אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּבֹא֖וֹ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְנָשָׂ֣א אַ֠הֲרֹ֠ן אֶת־מִשְׁפַּ֨ט בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל עַל־לִבּ֛וֹ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה תָּמִֽיד׃ {ס}

Exodus 28:30

Inside the breastpiece of decision you shall place the Urim and Thummim, so that they are over Aaron’s heart when he comes before יהוה. Thus Aaron shall carry the instrument of decision for the Israelites over his heart before יהוה at all times.

How are the important symbols of this Torah portion used?
Who needs them? The Priests? God? The Israelites?

What are other examples of symbols and iconography in Tanach or Jewish lore and legend?

בראשית א׳:י״ד

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃

Genesis 1:14

God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate day from night; they shall serve as signs for the set times—the days and the years;

שמות ז׳:ג׳

וַאֲנִ֥י אַקְשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־לֵ֣ב פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֧י אֶת־אֹתֹתַ֛י וְאֶת־מוֹפְתַ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Exodus 7:3

But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that I may multiply My signs and marvels in the land of Egypt.

בראשית ד׳:ט״ו

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יְהֹוָ֗ה לָכֵן֙ כׇּל־הֹרֵ֣ג קַ֔יִן שִׁבְעָתַ֖יִם יֻקָּ֑ם וַיָּ֨שֶׂם יְהֹוָ֤ה לְקַ֙יִן֙ א֔וֹת לְבִלְתִּ֥י הַכּוֹת־אֹת֖וֹ כׇּל־מֹצְאֽוֹ׃

Genesis 4:15

יהוה said to him, “I promise, if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be exacted.” And יהוה put a mark on Cain, lest anyone who met him should kill him.

שמות ל״א:ט״ז

וְשָׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃

Exodus 31:16

The Israelite people shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout the ages as a covenant for all time:

שמות ל״א:י״ז

בֵּינִ֗י וּבֵין֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל א֥וֹת הִ֖וא לְעֹלָ֑ם כִּי־שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שָׁבַ֖ת וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ {ס}

Exodus 31:17

it shall be a sign for all time between Me and the people of Israel. For in six days יהוה made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day [God] ceased from work and was refreshed.

דברים ו׳:ח׳

וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

Deuteronomy 6:8

Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead;

Who are these symbols meant for?
Who gets to decide a symbol's meaning?
Are all symbols worth preserving—in literature or physically?
What should happen when a symbol is no longer useful or is no longer used as it was originally intended?
When should symbols be retired, destroyed, erased, forgotten?
What's the line between symbol and idol?