VOLUME 109 NUMBER 7
Adar 1 7, 5784
February 16, 2024
PARSHAS TERUMAH
Candlelighting Time 5:19 PM
The Mishkan that was erected in the desert was a stunning work of art. The covering was a beautifully fashioned woven tapestry and the walls were made from acacia wood perfectly attached and set up to form a parameter around the inside for the Aron that housed the Tablets from Mt. Sinai, the exquisite candelabrum, the table of the showbread and the golden altar. Of course, the outside altar was used for the regular sacrifices surrounded by an array of specially designed curtains. This structure was beyond the imagination of the average person although it was built by former slaves, they were imbued and impassioned by Hashem. We were commanded to erect this building to house the Holy presence of Hashem. Of course, the obvious question is does Hashem need housing that we prepared this for Him and can we really build a physical structure to house the Divine Presence? The answer is a simple and resounding no. So, then why did we set up this beautiful Tabernacles in the desert?
Alshich provides a lengthy dissertation to explain the mission of the Mishkan in the desert and later the Beis Hamikdash in Eretz Yisroel. Of course, as stated we can’t constrain Hashem into a physical area. Even the Aron, which had clear dimensions when it was situated in the Mishkan, did not consume any area within. Certainly, Hashem in His infiniteness is not physically contained. However, the significance of the Mishkan was to connect this world with the upper celestial world of spirituality which exists beyond our vista of comprehension but is truly the quintessence of our subsistence in this world. All of Hashem’s benevolence is channeled from the grander regions and through various means supplied to the creations on this world including mankind and certainly the Jewish nation.
Perhaps the question should be asked why was there a need to construct such a picturesque and admirable edifice? Possibly it is similar to the mitzvah of buying a beautiful esrog for Succos or writing a Torah with exacting precision. Certainly, using a special esrog for the mitzvah on Succos adds an element of appreciation of the importance of the mitzvah as does a perfectly written sefer Torah. So too, the Mishkan although not primarily housing the Presence of Hashem but embodying the concept of adjoining this world to its heavenly status, that enhancement of cognizance serves to impact upon us and provide an impetus to indeed strive to accomplish. Achievement within that realm is to elevate our actions whereas before we might not have focused as strongly on perfection in the performance of a mitzvah, grasping the far-reaching effects of our deeds could spur us on to reach higher and more ideal levels in serving Hashem.
Netziv and Malbim amongst others explain that each facet of the Mishkan corresponded to various parts of the world. In other words, the Mishkan embodied in a diminutive fashion the entire creation. Perhaps their understanding of the implication of the Mishkan’s different functions and elements interfaces completely with the Alschich. The entire world realistically operates at the whim of Hashem. Without His ongoing support, the entirety of creation comes to an absolute halt and can only spin within the realm of Hashem’s concrete ‘desire’ for it to continue. That realization gives one the initiative to reassess his own personal objectives in life and potentially can create a new path of success and fulfillment.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
The debacle of the Golden Calf created an abyss between the nation and Hashem. However, despite that setback we nonetheless merited the Divine Presence in the Mishkan because our hearts were still powerfully allied with Hashem due to our prevailing acceptance of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. S’FAS EMES
GOOD SHABBOS
AS THE WAR CONTINUES PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS TURNING AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE. ALTHOUGH THROUGHOUT THE WAR PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS SYMPATHETIC AND DEFENDING OUR CAUSE TO REPEL THE HAMAS, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH HIS RHETORIC HAS SHIFTED TO THOSE CONDEMING US FOR AVENGING THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT THE END WILL BE HOWEVER WE MUST REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS IN THE HANDS OF HASHEM AND AS WE CONTINUE TO DAVEN TO HIM AND STUDY HIS TORAH AS A MERIT FOR OUR PEOPLE, THEN HASHEM WILL PROTECT US AS HE HAS IN ALL GENRATIONS BEFORE.
