mishkan
Shemini – Spiritual Elders
Why are the elders of Israel invited to inaugurate the Tabernacle if they don’t seem to play any role there? Why are the elders compared to the wings of a bird? What is the concept of ‘elder?’ Why does Hashem ‘honor the elders?’ What does it mean that they ‘belong to Hashem?’ Why does Hashem…
Read MoreTzav – Expansion Within Constriction
Why are all of the Jewish people gathered at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and how do they all fit in such a small space? What is the significance of the fact that the first example of ‘a great amount fitting in a small space’ is during Creation when the primordial waters are gathered? What…
Read MoreVayikra – Special Nation
What is the reason for the Jewish people’s ‘special nation’ status? Why does the midrash stress this so much right here at the beginning of Vayikra with the founding of the Tabernacle? Why was it so important for the nations of the world that the Tabernacle be protected? Why were the nations unable to receive…
Read MoreTerumah – Receving Torah, Receiving God
Why is the story of the revelation at Sinai placed immediately before the command to build a Tabernacle for Hashem’s presence? Why is the center of the Tabernacle the place that houses the Ark of the Covenant and the Torah that is within it? Why does the Midrash introduce the command of building the Tabernacle…
Read MoreVayikra – Prophetic Paradox
Why was Prophecy suddenly limited to being experienced in the Tabernacle? What is the significance of the special nature of Moses’ prophecy? Why does the midrash end with talk of the future, when all will experience prophecy? What is the difference between the revelation at the burning bush and the revelation in the Mishkan (Tabernacle)?…
Read MoreVayakhel-Pekudei – Silencing the Scoffers
What is the problem with admitting to old sins? Why was Moshe silent when some of the people of Israel said that Hashem would not return His divine presence to His people? Why was there three months from the time that the material of the Mishkan was completed until it was erected? Why was it…
Read MoreTetzaveh – Moshe and Aharon
Why does the parsha of the menorah, which is lit by Aharon, as well as the clothing of the Kohen Gadol and Kohanim, immediately precede the parsha of Ki Sisa which speaks about the sin of the Golden Calf? If Aharon was involved in that sin, why was he allowed to serve in the mishkan?…
Read MoreTerumah – Giving Back
Why did Hashem give righteous individuals gems alongside their Manna? What value were they to the righteous if they were just to be given as a donation to the Mishkan-Tabernacle? Why was it necessary for Jacob to instruct his children to prepare items which would be used more than two hundred years later in the…
Read MorePekudei – Spiritually Infused Livelihood
Why does the Mishkan seem to construct itself? Why does the Torah use similar language in regards to the way the Mishkan was constructed and the way that work is to be done during the six days of the week? How does one infuse one’s livelihood with this aspect of the mishkan, where it is…
Read MoreDovid, Yosef, the sixth hour and the seventh hour
I thought that title would get your attention. And, to boot, this is post number 607. Cool. Someone recently left a comment on the blog that they miss my moshiach messages. I wrote back that the messages are still there, you just have to know how to hear them. I don’t need to say too…
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