La Paracha Tetzaveh (תצוה – You will order), Exodus 27:20 – 30:10, describes the preparation of olive oil for the menorah, the making of the high priest’s clothes, including the Choshen (חֹשֶׁן – Pectoral ) fixed at the Ephod (אפוד – richly embroidered vest), decorated with twelve stones, different liturgies and the manufacture of the altar of perfumes.
Exodus 28:19
וְהַטּוּר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי–לֶשֶׁם שְׁבוֹ, וְאַחְלָמָה.
In the third row are:
Le Leshem (Opale), Shevo (Agate) and Achlama (Amethyst) (1).
“The Achlama stone was designated for the tribe of Gad, because this jewel supports the heart of man within the battle and the Bnei Gad were renowned for their skill in the art of war” (2). The word אחלמה (amethyst) has a numerical value of 84, the same numerical value as עזז, meaning to be strong, to have courage (3).
The small Spanish town of the Granada region, Alhama (4), is known for its thermal waters (5), its spectacular natural environment and its rich historical heritage, notably the Pósito, an ancient 13th century synagogue which was transformed at 16th century in a communal attic (Pósito). Located on the Plaza de Los Presos (Place des Prisonniers), it is today one of the most emblematic buildings in medieval Alhama.
The Pósito is built according to the Sillería technique (6). Its interior is made up of two large naves separated by a large central arch.
(1) The Temple Institute lists no less than thirty different opinions trying to identify the gems of the pectoral.
(2) Rabbi Moshe Weissman, Le Midrach Raconte, Ed. Solomon Haïm Lehiani, p. 335.
(3) Gematry 84 : א=1+ח=8+ל=30+מ=40+ה=5 et ז=7+ז=7+ע=70.
(4) Hebrew transcription is אלחמה, which has the gematry 84.
(5) Alhama is a term that comes from Arabic الحمام (Transcription: Al Hama) which means the hammam (thermal baths).
(6) Technique in which the stones are precisely cut to adjust perfectly to each other without the use of mortar or cement.