Parashat terumah

summary

We left last week’s parasha mishpatim, literally in a cloud. Anat Gueta writes of this: “Moses climbs the mount in order to receive the Holy Scribes from God and vanishes inside a cloud. Abruptly the dramatic scene is cut, only to continue 7 chapters later when God indicates to Moses the importance of the Shabbat and gives him the original tablets.” We are then held in suspense as, up in the cloud, God describes to Moses the proper way to worship God, whilst down below, the Israelites demonstrate just how not to worship.

The gap in the joined-up narrative begins with Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19), during which God instructs Moses on how to construct the mishkan, the Sanctuary or portable Tabernacle. The portion opens with these words: “The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts (terumah); you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves them...and let then make Me a sanctuary (mikdash) that I may dwell among them” The rest of the parasha concerns the construction of the Ark the ‘Holy of Holies’ (that is to hold the tablets of stone), its accompanying cherubim, table and lampstand, the Tent itself with curtains to divide the sections, an altar for incense and an altar for burnt offerings. Some of the details and measurements are vague and conflict with other Scriptural accounts of the mishkan.

commentary

Where does God dwell?

O God where shall I find You?

All hidden and exalted is Your place;

An where shall I not find You?

Fuul of Your glory in the infinite space. (Judah ha’Levi)

There is no place without God (Sa’adia Gaon)

Wherever you find a human footprint, there God is before you (Mekhilta to Ex 17:6)

The Kobriner Rabbi turned to his Chasidim and said: “Do you know where God is?” Then he took a piece of bread, showed it to them, and continued: “God is in this piece of bread. Without God’s nurturing power in all nature, this piece of bread would have no existence.”

“Where is God’s dwelling-place?” This was the question with which Rabbi Mendel of Kotzk surprised a number of learned people who happened to be visiting him. They laughed at him: “What a thing to ask! Is not the whole world full of God’s glory!” Then he answered his own question: “God dwells wherever we let God in.” (the above from Martin Buber, Tales of the Hasidim: The Later Masters, Schocken Books, New York, 1961, p.277)

Why does God order a Sanctuary (mikdash) built?

What was the world like before the Sanctuary was built? Like a chair with two legs which cannot stand firm, but shakes: when a third leg is made for it, it stands firm. So when the Sanctuary was made, the world became secure, for at the beginning, the world stood only on two legs, namely, on lovingkindness and Torah, and it shook, but when the third leg was made for it, namely, the Sanctuary, it stood firm… (Numbers Rabbah, Naso XII, 12)

The Holy One said, “As truly and you live, I will let my Shekhinah (God’s Presence) dwell among them so that all may know that I have forgiven Israel. My sanctuary in their midst will be a testimony of My forgiveness of their sins, and hence it ay be calleda ‘Tabernacle of Testimony.’” (Exodus Rabbah 51:4)

The erection of a sanctuary amon Israel was begun in answer to a direct appeal from the people, who said to God: “Eternal One of the world!” The kings of the nations have palaces in which are set a table, candlesticks and other royal insignia, that their king may be recognized as such. Should you not, our Sovereign, Redeemer and Helper, employ royal insignia that all the dwellers of the earth may recognize that You are their Sovereign?” God replied: “My children, the kings of flesh and blood need all these things, but I do not, for I need neither food nor drink...” (However) God gave detailed instructions for furnishing the Tabernacle, saying to Moses: “Tell Israel that I order them to build Me a tabernacle, not because I lack a dwelling…but only as a token of My affection for you will I leave My heavenly temple and dwell among you.” i.e. Obviously you need such a place. It will help you experience Me. (Midrash Aggadah Ex 27:1 and Tanhuma Buber IV 35)

The mikdash was not a dwelling place for God but a place set aside for people to come and experience more intensely the in-dwelling presence of God in the world at large. It represented a way of re-creating the universe in the centre of which is God. (Pinchas Peli, Jerusalem Post, 1988)

culture

If you would know the mystic source from where

Your persecuted people facing slaughter drew

In evil days the strength and fortitude

To meet grim death with joy, and bare the neck

To every sharpened blade and lifted ax…

If you would know the bosom where streamed

Your people’s tears, its heart and soul and gall…

If you would know the fortress where

Your ancestors carried to a safe haven

Their Torah scrolls,

The sacred treasure of the yearning souls…

If you would know the shelter where preserved

Immaculate, your people’s spirit…

Then go to the House of Prayer… (Chaim Nachman Bialik)