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Parsha Perspectives: Carrying the Broken Pieces (Vayakhel/Pikudei)

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The effort had yielded a magnificent result. The combined efforts of Klal Yisroel were manifest in the Mishkan, the incredible utensils, and the beautiful priestly garments. Men, women, skilled artisans, and simple laborers worked together to build a home for God and the Jewish nation. Moshe was given the privilege to oversee the “finishing touches.” 

He took and placed the testimony into the ark, put the poles upon the ark, and placed the ark cover on the ark from above (Exodus 40:20). 

The Aron (ark) which represented the throne of God contained the “testimony”, the luchos (tablets) brought down by Moshe with the word of God inscribed upon them. The Targum Yonason (Yonasan ben Uziel) adds an additional insight: “V’tavrei luchaya ba’arona, the broken tablets were placed inside the ark.” Not only were the whole (second set) tablets placed inside the Aron, the first (broken) set of tablets were placed inside the Aron as well.   

But why not state this explicitly? The Torah goes into such detail regarding every last cubit of the Mishkan, no detail is spared, why omit this one? After all, the Talmud and Midrash spend much time speaking about the holiness of the first set of tablets. “Had the first tablets not been smashed, Torah would have never been forgotten.”  “The first tablets were written by the hand of God.” And many other statements speaking to the holiness and awesomeness of the first tablets. Why doesn’t the verse tell us that they were placed in the ark alongside the whole set of (second) tablets? 

The Ibn Ezra (1089-1157) makes an amazing statement. “The second set of tablets were superior to the first.” He then goes on to enumerate seven ways in which the second luchos were superior. Perhaps, the Ibn Ezra with this simple statement was teaching us a profound concept. The second luchos were superior – because they are what we had. In life, one can focus on what could have, should have and would have been, or one can focus on what is. One can lament missed opportunities, major mistakes, and unmaterialized dreams, or they can put their efforts into maximizing their present. We each have this important choice to make. It is easy to get stuck in your past, either waxing nostalgically on how wonderful things used to be or lamenting all of the roads you should have taken. I can use up all of my mental, emotional, and spiritual energy by focusing on what was, or I can find the courage to learn from my past, arm myself with those lessons, and find the strength to maximize my present.   

It is true the first set of luchos were incredible – but the second luchos were even better – because they are the luchos we had. The Torah does not mention the first luchos as Hashem did not want us focusing on them. The Torah only makes mention of the second luchos as they were what we had and where we had to put our energy and thoughts. 

We each carry around the broken tablets of missed opportunities, unrealized goals, and shattered dreams. We must keep them in our personal ark so that we can learn and grow from them, but they must be pushed to the side of the ark. The ark’s primary space must be occupied by the whole tablets of our present, and it is those tablets that we must focus on and build from.

Sourcesheet

Parsha Perspectives: Vayakhel/Pikudei-Change & Consistency

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Numerous Parshios are devoted to the creation and fabrication of the Mishkan and its utensils.  The details contained in these Torah portions are not simply the architectural framework for this sacred space and its vessels; these details contain the roadmap for successful, enriched and meaningful living.

 “Betzalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. And he overlaid it with pure gold from inside and from outside, and he made for it a golden crown all around (Exodus 37:1-2).”

The Talmud (Yerushalmi Shekalim 6:1) explains that the Ark was unique in its construction. It was comprised of three separate boxes. The innermost box was made of gold, the larger one which held it was made of wood, and the largest exterior box (which held the smaller two) was made of gold.  This construction was quite unique. There were utensils made of solid gold and others made of wood coated with gold. Why did the Aron (Ark) have this unique construction of wood enveloped by gold?

The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) explains that the Aron was supposed to represent paradigmatic man. Every aspect and detail of the Ark teaches us how to self-actualize and live a meaningful and successful life. The male and female Cherubim (angelic figures perched on the lid of the ark) teach us to be passionate in our relationship with each other and with God. Their upstretched wings teach us that we must aspire to climb higher and accomplish more. The Luchos (tablets), resting in the center, remind us that the Torah and its values must be the foundation, core and center of the decisions we make and things we do. The poles that remained inserted, even when the Aron was at rest, teach us that the Torah and its values are transplantable and must follow us and inform the way we live – wherever we may go.

While both wood and gold can be used for construction their properties are fundamentally different. Gold is inanimate; it is mined from the earth and can be manipulated but cannot grow and cannot change. Wood is alive. The tree takes in nutrients; its branches grow and bear fruit. The tree changes with the seasons and through the years. The Aron contains both of these materials to teach another very important lesson.

Man must be gold and he must be wood.

I must possess golden principles that I will stand by and stand up for no matter what. I must possess a sense of right and good and be able to maintain them no matter how much external pressure I face. I must be rigid in my adherence to the tenets of my faith and the principles of my people. I must have gold-like, immutable resolve to uphold the ideas and ideals I hold sacred.

Yet, man must also learn to be a tree, to be wood-like in his approach to life and others.

I must learn the art of change and recognize that just because I have been a certain way until now does not mean I must continue to be that same person going forward.  I must learn to adapt to new circumstances. Life doesn’t always go the way I planned or hoped – I can be wood, I can grow, I can change, I can adapt. Wood is pliable. I must learn that when dealing with others I cannot always stand my ground, I must learn when to yield for the sake of shalom (peace).

Man must be gold on his inside and his outside.

I must have the principles, ideas and ideals that I will live and die for. I must know what I believe and stand ready to defend those beliefs no matter how fierce the opposition may be.  But I must possess an inner layer of wood and learn the art of compromise, change, accommodation and collaboration.

The Ark is only fit for service in the Temple if it has these multiple layers. Man can only be successful if he possesses them as well.

Sourcesheet

Parsha Perspectives: Pikudei-Chasing the Clouds

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 “He set up the courtyard all around the Mishkan and the altar, and he put up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard; and Moses completed the work.”(Exodus 40:33)

Over the last number of Parshios we have read of the collection and subsequent creation of the Mishkan. God asked for an earthly abode, a place where His beloved children could come to connect. And now, in this week’s Parsha, the last section of the book of Shemos, the work was complete. The Mishkan was brought to Moshe, the Divine Presence descended upon it and the relationship between God and His nation was further cemented. Yet, the Torah adds a seemingly extraneous piece of information.

“When the cloud rose up from over the Mishkan, the Children of Israel set out in all their journeys.” (Exodus 40:36).

Over the course of the next three verses the Torah discusses Mishkan movement. Specifically, when the cloud of God would ascend, it signaled a need to break camp and journey forward. But why is this mentioned here? This belongs in the book of Bamidbar which details our various journeys in the desert. Yet, this is the last piece of information closing out the book of Shemos. What is the deeper meaning?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, 1902-1994) provides an incredible insight. The purpose of the Mishkan was to create a home for God within our midst. Although, we believe that God is everywhere, as physical beings it is helpful for us to have an address, a place where we can dedicate ourselves to connection and elevation. The Mishkan was the place where God allowed His Presence to be more acutely felt. The cloud which hovered over theMishkan was a manifestation of God. When one saw the cloud, he understood that Hashem was dwelling within our midst; he felt God next to him. There are times in life when we feel close to God and there are times when we feel distant. What is the approach of the Jew when he feels disconnected and distant? What should we do when we don’t feel inspired and holy? We must find the strength to seek out our Father.  We must find the courage to run after the cloud when we are no longer enveloped by it.

This is the message of the verse.

U’Vheyalos He’Anan Mey’Al HaMishkan, (When the cloud rose up from over the Mishkan) – There are times when the cloud of inspiration seems far away. At times, we don’t feel connected to God.  The cloud of holiness seems to leave our inner Mishkan.

What is our approach in these moments of disconnect?

Yis’u Bnai Yisroel B’Chol Maaseyhem, (the children of Israel set out in all their journeys) – we move forward trying to catch up to the cloud. Sometimes, the cloud is distant but attainable if we are willing to journey towards it. Spiritual inspiration doesn’t show up at our doorsteps. More often, it is hovering, waiting for us, beckoning to us from a distance. We must travel to it, seek it out, find it and claim it. If we truly want to be enveloped by the cloud of godliness, we must be ready to travel for it.

And now we understand. The entire purposes of the Mishkan was to create a space for God within our community and daily lives. Yet at the end of this incredible endeavor we are taught that no matter how much we want to keep the cloud near us, at some point it travels forward. It is then that the true nature of our spiritual mettle comes through. We all love holiness, inspiration and closeness to God but are we willing to push ourselves, to travel and venture out to acquire them?  Meaningful and lasting personal holiness is never acquired with ease. It requires effort, exertion and willingness to chase after the cloud.

Sourcesheet

Vayakhel Pikudei 5778: Gold Inside and Out

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Numerous Parshios are devoted to the creation and fabrication of the Mishkan and its utensils. The details contained in these Torah portions are not simply the architectural framework for this sacred space and its vessels; these details contain the roadmap for successful, enriched and meaningful living.

 Betzalel made the Ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. And he overlaid it with pure gold from inside and from outside, and he made for it a golden crown all around.” (Exodus 37:1-2)

The Talmud (Yerushalmi Shekalim 6:1) explains that the Ark was unique in its construction. It was comprised of three separate boxes. The innermost box was made of gold, the larger one which held it (the inner one) was made of wood and the largest exterior box (which held the smaller two) was made of gold. This construction was quite unique. There were utensils made of solid gold and others made of wood coated with gold. Why did the Aron (Ark) have this unique construction of wood enveloped by gold?

The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) explains that the Aron was supposed to represent paradigmatic man. Every aspect and detail of the Ark teaches us how to self-actualize and live a meaningful and successful life. The male and female Cherubim (angelic figures perched on the lid of the Ark) teach us to be passionate in our relationships with each other and with God. Their upstretched wings teach us that we must aspire to climb higher and accomplish more. The Luchos (tablets) resting in the center remind us that the Torah and its values must be the foundation, core and center of the decisions we make and things we do. The poles that remained inserted even when the Aron was at rest teach us that the Torah and its values are transplantable and must follow us and inform the way we live – wherever we may go.

While both wood and gold can be used for construction their properties are fundamentally different. Gold is inanimate; it is mined from the earth and can be manipulated but cannot grow and cannot change. Wood is alive. The tree takes in nutrients; its branches grow and bear fruit.The tree changes with the seasons and through the years. The Aron contains both of these materials to teach another very important lesson. Man must be gold and he must be wood. He must possess golden principles that he will stand by and stand up for no matter what. We must possess a sense of right and good and be able to maintain them no matter how much external pressure we may face. We must be rigid in our adherence to the tenets of our faith and the principles of our people. We must have gold-like, immutable resolve to uphold the ideas and ideals we hold to be sacred.  Yet, we must also learn to be a tree, to be wood-like in our approach to life and others. We must learn the art of change and recognize that just because we each have been a certain way until now does not meanweI must continue to be that same person going forward. We must learn to adapt to new circumstances. Life doesn’t always go the way we plan or hope, but wecan be wood, we can grow, change, and adapt. Wood is pliable. We must learn that when dealing with others we cannot always stand our ground,  but must learn when to yield for the sake of shalom (peace).

Man must be gold on his inside and his outside. We must have the principles, ideas and ideals that we will live and die for.  We must know what we believe and stand ready to defend those beliefs no matter how fierce the opposition may be. But we must possess an inner layer of wood and learn the art of compromise, change, accommodation and collaboration. The Ark is only fit for service in the Temple if it has these multiple layers. Man can only be successful if he possesses them as well.

Sourcesheet