Post by R' Y'hoshua Moshe on Feb 7, 2005 20:12:09 GMT -8
Shalom chaverim! The following is this week's reading commentary compliments of Rabbi Yaakov benYosef. Enjoy!
Terumah “Offering” - Shemot (Exodus) 25:1- 27:19
3 Adar 1 5765 – Feb. 12, 2005
Unlike the gods associated with other nations, Yisrael’s God took an active interest in the welfare of the people. Therefore, HaShem even taught Yisrael new and unique ways of worship. In fact, the style of worship in Yisrael edified the worshiper as well as exulting HaShem. HaShem wanted Yisrael to worship in a way that would lead His people into His presence. Therefore, the primary focus of Yisraeli worship was to enhance fellowship between HaShem and His people. As a result, Yisrael’s worship was supposed to be interactive and alive. This was quite different from the nations who worshiped non-responsive stone, metal, and wooden idols. HaShem wanted Yisraeli worship to testify to the nations that He indeed dwelled with His people. All of the attributes of the Yisraeli worship experience were designed to reflect this unique fellowship between HaShem and His people. Therefore, even in the structure and construction of the tabernacle we can see how HaShem’s inclusion of the children of Yisrael became a testimony to the world of His presence among His people. In Terumah, the testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael is seen through the funding, plan, construction, and mobility of the tabernacle.
The funding of the tabernacle is the first testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael. HaShem wanted voluntary contributions. Shemot 25:1-2 says “the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that gives it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” HaShem desired for His people to freely serve Him. Therefore, HaShem chose not to force the children of Yisrael to contribute to the construction of the tabernacle. By allowing the children of Yisrael to freely contribute, HaShem created a unique fellowship based on conviction and not on compulsion. This testified to other nations that the God of Yisrael wanted His people to serve Him because they wanted to not because they were forced to or were afraid not to.
The second testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael can be seen in the plan of the tabernacle. Shemot 25:9 sates “According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” >From the passage, it is clear that HaShem wanted Yisrael to build the earthly tabernacle as an exact replica of the heavenly tabernacle. By commanding Moshe to use the pattern of the heavenly tabernacle, HaShem was allowing the children of Yisrael partake of the type of worship conducted in heaven. As a result, HaShem was training Yisrael to imitate the heavenly realm. Building a structure that was a carbon copy of the heavenly tabernacle would bring HaShem’s holy presence to the earth. As a result, HaShem was uniting the heavenly and the earthly. The heavenly tabernacle here on earth shows that HaShem was establishing His presence on earth as a testimony to other nations that there was a God who dwelled in the midst of His people.
The construction of the tabernacle also demonstrates the testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael. Shemot 25:18-22 of the Complete Jewish Bible states“You are to make two k’ruvim of gold. Make them of hammered work for the two ends of the ark-cover. Make one keruv for one end and one keruv for the other end; make the k’ruvim of one piece with the ark-cover at its two ends. The k’ruvim will have their wings spread out above, so that their wings cover the ark, and their faces are toward each other and toward the ark-cover. You are to put the ark-cover on top of the ark. Inside the ark you will put the testimony that I am about to give you. There I will meet with you. I will speak to you from above the ark-cover, from between the two k’ruvim which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Isra’el.”<br> The ark gave Yisrael a place to meet HaShem. HaShem included symbols of both the heavenly realm and the earthly realm in the construction of the ark. The “testimony” contained within the ark was a witness of man’s responsibility to HaShem. It was a witness of HaShem’s desire to teach Yisrael how to live in His presence. The cover of the ark with the two k’ruvim represented the heavenly. Therefore, from His place above the ark, HaShem ruled over both the heavenly and the earthly. As a result, when HaShem spoke from the above the ark, He instructed the earthly and the heavenly in His ordinances. Therefore, the ark testified of HaShem’s dominion of over heaven and earth.
The mobility of the tabernacle also demonstrates HaShem’s desire to testify of His presence among the children of Yisrael. Unlike the idols of Egypt, HaShem did not want an immobile temple. HaShem clearly sought to dwell and move with His people. Therefore, HaShem commanded Yisrael to build a tabernacle that was completely mobile. Shemot 25:12-14 states “And you shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And you shall make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.” From the passage, we can see that all of the furnishings and materials of the tabernacle were constructed for mobility. The children of Yisrael were constantly in the presence of HaShem because the tabernacle of HaShem always went with the children of Yisrael. Therefore, the children of Yisrael could never travel beyond the boundaries of HaShem’s presence. The mobility of the tabernacle testifies that HaShem wanted the other nations to realize He was always present with the children of Yisrael.
Unlike the idols of other lands, it is clear that HaShem wanted to dwell among His people creating a testimony to other nations. As a result, other nations could witness the presence of HaShem through aspects of the funding, plan, construction, and mobility of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle in the midst of Yisrael was designed to be a living testimony of the presence of HaShem among His people.
By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef – ABOUT-.org
Terumah “Offering” - Shemot (Exodus) 25:1- 27:19
3 Adar 1 5765 – Feb. 12, 2005
Unlike the gods associated with other nations, Yisrael’s God took an active interest in the welfare of the people. Therefore, HaShem even taught Yisrael new and unique ways of worship. In fact, the style of worship in Yisrael edified the worshiper as well as exulting HaShem. HaShem wanted Yisrael to worship in a way that would lead His people into His presence. Therefore, the primary focus of Yisraeli worship was to enhance fellowship between HaShem and His people. As a result, Yisrael’s worship was supposed to be interactive and alive. This was quite different from the nations who worshiped non-responsive stone, metal, and wooden idols. HaShem wanted Yisraeli worship to testify to the nations that He indeed dwelled with His people. All of the attributes of the Yisraeli worship experience were designed to reflect this unique fellowship between HaShem and His people. Therefore, even in the structure and construction of the tabernacle we can see how HaShem’s inclusion of the children of Yisrael became a testimony to the world of His presence among His people. In Terumah, the testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael is seen through the funding, plan, construction, and mobility of the tabernacle.
The funding of the tabernacle is the first testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael. HaShem wanted voluntary contributions. Shemot 25:1-2 says “the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that gives it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.” HaShem desired for His people to freely serve Him. Therefore, HaShem chose not to force the children of Yisrael to contribute to the construction of the tabernacle. By allowing the children of Yisrael to freely contribute, HaShem created a unique fellowship based on conviction and not on compulsion. This testified to other nations that the God of Yisrael wanted His people to serve Him because they wanted to not because they were forced to or were afraid not to.
The second testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael can be seen in the plan of the tabernacle. Shemot 25:9 sates “According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” >From the passage, it is clear that HaShem wanted Yisrael to build the earthly tabernacle as an exact replica of the heavenly tabernacle. By commanding Moshe to use the pattern of the heavenly tabernacle, HaShem was allowing the children of Yisrael partake of the type of worship conducted in heaven. As a result, HaShem was training Yisrael to imitate the heavenly realm. Building a structure that was a carbon copy of the heavenly tabernacle would bring HaShem’s holy presence to the earth. As a result, HaShem was uniting the heavenly and the earthly. The heavenly tabernacle here on earth shows that HaShem was establishing His presence on earth as a testimony to other nations that there was a God who dwelled in the midst of His people.
The construction of the tabernacle also demonstrates the testimony of HaShem’s presence in Yisrael. Shemot 25:18-22 of the Complete Jewish Bible states“You are to make two k’ruvim of gold. Make them of hammered work for the two ends of the ark-cover. Make one keruv for one end and one keruv for the other end; make the k’ruvim of one piece with the ark-cover at its two ends. The k’ruvim will have their wings spread out above, so that their wings cover the ark, and their faces are toward each other and toward the ark-cover. You are to put the ark-cover on top of the ark. Inside the ark you will put the testimony that I am about to give you. There I will meet with you. I will speak to you from above the ark-cover, from between the two k’ruvim which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Isra’el.”<br> The ark gave Yisrael a place to meet HaShem. HaShem included symbols of both the heavenly realm and the earthly realm in the construction of the ark. The “testimony” contained within the ark was a witness of man’s responsibility to HaShem. It was a witness of HaShem’s desire to teach Yisrael how to live in His presence. The cover of the ark with the two k’ruvim represented the heavenly. Therefore, from His place above the ark, HaShem ruled over both the heavenly and the earthly. As a result, when HaShem spoke from the above the ark, He instructed the earthly and the heavenly in His ordinances. Therefore, the ark testified of HaShem’s dominion of over heaven and earth.
The mobility of the tabernacle also demonstrates HaShem’s desire to testify of His presence among the children of Yisrael. Unlike the idols of Egypt, HaShem did not want an immobile temple. HaShem clearly sought to dwell and move with His people. Therefore, HaShem commanded Yisrael to build a tabernacle that was completely mobile. Shemot 25:12-14 states “And you shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And you shall make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.” From the passage, we can see that all of the furnishings and materials of the tabernacle were constructed for mobility. The children of Yisrael were constantly in the presence of HaShem because the tabernacle of HaShem always went with the children of Yisrael. Therefore, the children of Yisrael could never travel beyond the boundaries of HaShem’s presence. The mobility of the tabernacle testifies that HaShem wanted the other nations to realize He was always present with the children of Yisrael.
Unlike the idols of other lands, it is clear that HaShem wanted to dwell among His people creating a testimony to other nations. As a result, other nations could witness the presence of HaShem through aspects of the funding, plan, construction, and mobility of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle in the midst of Yisrael was designed to be a living testimony of the presence of HaShem among His people.
By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef – ABOUT-.org