Degel Machaneh Ephraim - Parshas Tetzaveh

It is known that the Torah is eternal and binding for every person in every age. Hashem, in His great kindness, has given me insight into the question how we can observe the mitzva of not detaching the Choshen from the Eiphod in this generation.

The word "Eiphod" (אפד) has the same numerical value as the word "Peh" (פה) - "mouth". Detaching the Choshen, that was worn over the heart, from the Eiphod thus is separating the heart from the mouth. It is possible for us to observe this prohibition even today by ensuring that our mouth and heart are always in harmony and that there is never be a separation between them.

It is known that the Urim and Tumim barely contained all twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, as Chazal have said. Therefore, when they had to ask a question that used two or three of the same letters, such as "Should I go to Bavel?" (האלך לבבל), how were they answered? There is a very great secret to this.

I received an answer from my grandfather [the Baal Shem Tov] about this. He said that each of the twenty-two letters contains within it all the other letters of the alphabet, with the exception of the letter mem. Since Hashem commanded that all twenty-two letters be inscribed on the Urim, when the kohen would be enwrapped in Divine inspiration, the letters would shine in their expanded forms. This enabled them to receive everything they needed to know.