Ask the Rebbetzin - Parashat Teruma
Dearest
Rebbetzin,
I’ve been wondering why the Torah goes into such details in
describing the Mishkan. It seems a bit tedious to go through all the
measurements of each of the Tabernacle and its vessels. Why are these details
so important? If you could shed light on their symbolic meaning, it would make Parashat
Teruma so much more meaningful to me.
Mini
Meir
(name changed)
Dear Mini,
It is hard to understand
the details of the Mishkan because they are so deeply divine, and beyond human
conception. This is why it states after each part of the building of the
Mishkan, “As G-d had commanded Moshe” (Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, Kuzari 25:2).
Malbim explains that the Mishkan is like a cosmic
person with an all-inclusive body,
connecting all of existence. Just as the human
body – the garment of our soul – has limbs that serve to actualize our
spiritual powers, the Tabernacle and Temple has vessels and body parts. The
three parts of the Mishkan correspond to the three parts of the human body: 1.
The Holy of Holiest corresponds to the head and skull – the abode of the
Intellectual Soul (Neshama) 2. The Tent of Meeting corresponds to the
upper part of the body from the neck to the chest – the abode of the Vital Soul
(Ruach) – the location of the heart. 3. The Courtyard corresponds to the
lower part of the body from the navel downwards – the vegetable soul (Nefesh)
-manifesting through the stomach, liver and intestines. Just as our body and
organs need exact measures in order to function, so does each of the measures
of the Mishkan serve a purpose in the cosmic body. Read on to learn some of the
symbolic meanings of the Mishkan based on Malbim’s commentary on Parasha
Teruma.
The Mishkan Connects the
Body of Israel
A
person is a microcosmic world. This is because all the worlds were employed in
the formation of the human being and implanted within him during the Six Days
of Creation. We conduct our small chariot – our body, just as the upper King
conducts His great chariot – the world. Hashem
is the Soul of the world, through which He imbues it with light and life. He
connects the entire macrocosmic body – all the many worlds from beginning to
end, to become one complete unified entity, in which the wisdom of the Creator
is revealed. If our soul would separate from the body, all our organs would
turn into dead dispersed particles. When the Jewish people are not united, our
cosmic Soul disconnects from the body. This is why senseless hatred caused the
Temple to be destroyed . When we unite through the Mishkan and the Temple, our
cosmic Soul will once again infuse the collective body of Israel and of the
world with Divine light.
The Ark Corresponds to
the Brain
The Ark was placed within the Holy of Holies,
corresponding to the Neshama (intellectual soul). The two tablets
in the Ark correspond to the brain, which is divided into two sides. In order
to receive the Torah, we need the sense of vision to read it. Furthermore, we
need ears to hear the tradition of our Fathers as brought down in the Oral
Torah. These correspond to the poles that carry the Ark, since both the visual
and auditory centers are connected to the brain. The highest parts of the soul
are called Chaya and Yechidah. They do not have a designated
place in the body. Rather, they hover over and above it. The Cherubs on the lid
of the Ark allude to these soul parts. They spread their wings on high, because
they dwell in the upper world, in the source of life, from where they send
their light to those who merit prophetic Divine visions. It was, therefore,
from above the lid of the Ark that Hashem spoke with Moshe.
The Ark Corresponds to
Torah
The Ark was made from wood since the Torah is
called “A Tree of Life.” Why does it state וְעָשׂוּ/v’asu – “they
shall make” in plural regarding the Ark, whereas by the other vessels it
states, וְעָשִׂיתָ/v’asita – “you shall make” in singular? Everyone had to
be involved in making the Ark, so that all would merit Torah. Moreover, Torah
can only be truly fulfilled through the community of Israel. Three of the
Tabernacle vessels have crowns: the Altar, the Table and the Ark. The crown of
the Altar belongs to Aharon. The crown of the Table belongs to David. Yet, the
crown of the Ark is free for anyone who wants to come and take it. The Torah
belongs to all of Israel. Both those who learn it and those who support Torah
learning share its reward. All the measurements of the Ark consist of halves to
teach us that a Torah scholar must always be humble and his heart broken within
him.
The Blessings of the
Table
The partition between the Holy of Holies and
the Tent of Meeting corresponds to the neck that connects the head with the
chest. The
Tent of Meeting corresponds to the middle part of the body from the neck to the
chest where the living Ruach (spirit) resides. It contains the Table and
the Menorah. The Table with its showbreads corresponds to the nourishing heart
which brings the blessings of the Sanctuary and sustenance
to the whole world. . Upon the Table were twelve
breads corresponding to the twelve months of the year. Since blessings can only
rest on something physical, the bread of Hashem conveyed blessings of satiation
to the entire world. It is called Lechem HaPanim (Inner Bread) because
it emanates from the innermost place, from Hashem Himself Who sustains every
living being.
The Menorah
Corresponds to the Understanding Heart
The Menorah alludes to the intellectual heart –
the light of knowledge. Whereas the Ark alludes to the wisdom of the Torah and
prophesy (Chachmah), which emerges from Divine revelation, the Menorah
alludes to that which we can understand through our own (Binah) and is
connected to the heart as it states, “The Heart understands…” (Zohar,
Part 2:116b). The fact that the Menorah was fashioned from pure gold
teaches us that we must strive for “solid gold” in our motives and behavior.
Our character traits on the inside should reflect our actions
on the outside, and vice versa. In this way, the Menorah teaches us
to bring out the Divine light from within our soul to shine externally. The
Menorah’s structure, which branches out from a central stem also inspires us to
embrace holiness. It teaches us that our demeanor, personality, and actions
must branch out and influence others by illuminating the world around us.
Finally, the Menorah reminds the people of Israel that we are called to be “A
Light unto the nations” (Yesha’yahu 42:6).
The Courtyard
The
Copper Altar was for sacrifices and stood in the courtyard of the Tabernacle.
It corresponds to the stomach and the digestive system – the vessels of the Nefesh.
Just as the digestive system digests the food by means of the heat of the
stomach, the Altar consumes the sacrifices and turns them into ashes by means
of fire from heaven, breaking everything down to its root element. The
measurements of the altar are whole to hint that a person approaching the altar
to bring an offering must repent until teshuva sheleima – complete
repentance. The curtains of the Tent correspond to the skin that surrounds and
protects the body.
The Mishkan Becomes the Resting Place for Our Divine Soul
The
Tabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem – the undivided city – unites
all the souls of the Jewish nation to become as one person with an all-inclusive
soul, emanating the light of Divine brilliance that illuminates the entire
world with His glory. Therefore, when we pray, we direct our hearts to face the
Temple. From wherever we are in the world, our prayers flow to the Temple
Mount. In this way, we fulfill our spiritual goal to illuminate and actualize
our souls, as it states, “Make me a Tabernacle and I will dwell within them” (Shemot
25:8). When the individual lights of each soul are fused, they become
transformed to illuminate as one great light – the light of the Shechinah that
dwells within us. May we merit to once again become unified and make ourselves
into one cosmic body – The chariot of the Divine presence!
(Based on The Allusions of the Mishkan
(Tabernacle) according to MALBIM, Meir Loeb
ben Yechiel Michael, 1809–1879, Volhynia, Ukraine).
