Hiddur Mitzvah: Torah Breastplate (Choshen)

Hiddur Mitzvah is the Jewish concept of beautifying the commandment by appealing to the senses. Ornate ritual objects engage our feelings with their sounds, fragrances, tastes, textures, colors, and artistry. These aesthetically pleasing objects enhance our observation of Jewish practice and expand the enjoyment of religious acts. In this series, Ritual Director Ben Kreshtool explores several ritual objects in Beth El’s collection that are lovely examples of Hiddur Mitzvah.

No other ritual object is more fundamental to Jewish law, learning, and practice than the Torah. Beth El is blessed to have many lovely Torah scrolls in active rotation, all composed precisely the same way as the first Torah, written by Moses many millennia ago.

In addition to the text itself, each Torah features various accoutrements designed to connect modern Jews to our ancient tradition. Specifically, the ornate dressings which adorn the Torah case reflect the Bigdei Kehunah, the priestly garments discussed at the end of the Book of Exodus, and the Yom Kippur Torah reading.   

If you look closely at a Torah scroll, you will notice several components including a belt (chagorah or avnet), a coat (me’il), a crown (keter) or a set of Rimonim. Also, there is a yad - the pointer used by the Torah reader to help keep their place as they read from the Torah (it is forbidden to touch the Torah parchment directly) - and a breastplate (choshen).

The choshen is perhaps the Torah dressing most closely connected to Bigdei Kehunah, the priestly garments. In the days of the temple, the High Priest (Kohen Gadol) wore a breastplate that featured 12 golden settings, aligned in four rows of three. Inside each setting was a distinct gemstone corresponding to one of the 12 tribes of Israel, themselves named after of Jacob’s 12 sons. Interestingly, the gemstone representing the Tribe of Reuben included the names of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which contains every letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Though Beth El has many choshen, only two mimic the breastplate worn by the High Priest.

The first is a silver breastplate featuring symbols representing the 12 tribes but no gemstones. The second is a brass breastplate that does contain 12 gemstones, though not necessarily the exact stones described in the Book of Exodus. The brass breastplate also features the names of each tribe, inscribed in English underneath each stone.

During the avodah service on Yom Kippur, we recite a stunningly beautiful piyyut (liturgical poem) called "Mareh Kohein," which recalls the High Priest’s duties in the temple. Mareh Kohein is an alphabetical acrostic that describes the splendor of the High Priest in his Yom Kippur garments. So this year on on Yom Kippur, as we bring the Torah out of the Ark, take a moment to envision the High Priest, resplendent in his Yom Kippur robes. Perhaps you might hear the bells of the High Priest’s breastplate as he moved across the azarah, or picture the golden settings of his choshen. At that moment, you may become keenly aware of your place in a Jewish tradition that is thousands of years old.

We hope you will join us for High Holy Day services. You can access Beth El’s full schedule of High Holy Day services by clicking this link. A complete description of youth and family services below.

Schedule of High Holy Day Youth And Family Services

Rosh Hashanah b (Monday, September 10) and Yom Kippur (Wednesday, September 19)
10:00 a.m.: Babysitting (Preschool classrooms 12&13)
10:00 a.m.: Early Childhood Family Service* (Myers Auditorium)
10:45 a.m.: Preschool Activities (Preschool classrooms 12&13)
10:00 a.m.: Family Service (2nd graders and above) Option #1* (Gorn Chapel)
11:00 a.m.: Teen Service (Rooms 213-214)
11:30 a.m.: Family Service (2nd graders and above) Option #2* (Gorn Chapel)

For children of parents who attend adult services:
10:00 a.m.: Before Care (Schapiro Auditorium)
11:00 a.m.: 1st-3rd Grade Service (Kolker Room); 4th-6th Grade Service (Schapiro Auditorium)
12:00 p.m.: After Care (Schapiro Auditorium)

Services Schedule For Rosh Hashanah Day 2 - Tuesday, September 11
10:00 a.m.: Special program with Becky Gordon in Babysitting (Preschool classrooms 12&13)
10:00 a.m.: Family Service (Gorn Chapel)

Downtown Services: Salem Lutheran Church @ 1530 Battery Ave
Rosh Hashanah Family Service - Led by Cantor Melanie Blatt
Monday, September 10 at 4:00 p.m.

Yom Kippur Family Service - Led by Cantor Melanie Blatt
Wednesday, September 19 at 4:00 p.m.

*Reservations required for all family services due to limited seating. For questions, contact Fran Davis at 410-484-4543.