Everyone knows that the Mishkan is God\u2019s house. To Ramban however, it is also home.<\/p>\n
Consider: if there are \u201cthree partners in the creation of Man: God, the father, and the mother\u201d [Kiddushin 30b], then the Mishkan, our national abode and the place of that dynamic partnership, must resonate the subtle influence of ALL our parents. In Ramban\u2019s beautiful formulation:<\/p>\n
When Bnei Yisrael came to Sinai and made the Mishkan and Hashem caused His Divine presence to dwell, they returned to [the status of] their fathers<\/u><\/b>. Ha\u2019avos hein hein hamerkavah. The Patriarchs [and Matriarchs] \u2013 they are the chariot.<\/em><\/p>\n A chariot in the sense of a Divine conduit; within our Avos (fathers) and Imahos (mothers) reside the necessary spiritual DNA for molding all future Jewish generations.<\/p>\n Let us search for them in the Holy confines of the mishkan:<\/p>\n 1. Sarah and Rivkah<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n a. Three constant miracles adorned Sarah and Rivkah\u2019s tent [Bereishit Rabah 60]<\/p>\n You find that as long as Sarah lived, a cloud hung over her tent<\/u><\/b>; when she died, that cloud disappeared; \u2026 when Rebekah came, it returned \u2026 there was a blessing in her dough, and the lamp used to burn from the evening of the Sabbath until the evening of the following Sabbath<\/u><\/b>; when she died, these ceased, but when Rebekah came, they returned.<\/u><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n Three miracles: the continuous cloud, constant candle and the ever-present blessing in the dough all find direct parallels in the Mishkan existence in the form of the ner tamid<\/i>, the lechem hapanim<\/i> and the ananaei hakavod<\/i> that hovered above the mishkan. Remarkably the word tamid, the classic Torah term to describe constancy and consistency is employed for all three of these Mishkan miracles (1)<\/a> \u2013 resonating Sarah and Rivkah\u2019s spiritual energy.<\/p>\n 2. Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov <\/u><\/b><\/p>\n a. \u2026 are easily found in the essential utensils. Avraham, paragon of chesed can be found in the shulchan<\/i><\/b>, the table that represents the kindness(2)<\/a> of giving \u2013 reminiscent of the midrashic depiction of Avraham\u2019s largesse. A remarkable Rabbeinu Bechaye (1265-1340) records the stunning custom of the pious Jews of France to make their coffin from the wood of their dining room tables. Long after the guests have left and the food is gone, the symbolism of the table and its accompanying kindnesses sustain our people.<\/p>\n b. Yitzchak, hearkening back to the Akedah, represents the pure divine service of the mizbeaich<\/i><\/b> (altar). Indeed, various midrashim depict Yitzchak\u2019s \u201cashes\u201d as remaining atop the altar(3)<\/a>, a deep notion that minimally serves to explicitly link Yitzchak with the altar.<\/p>\n c. Yaakov, the paragon tent dweller represents the Aron and its Torah<\/u><\/b>(4)<\/a>. Thus Yeshayahu [2:3] calls the beis hamikdash the house of Jacob\u2019s God<\/i> \u2013 for the Ark was its vessel par excellence(5)<\/a>. Indeed Rambam(6)<\/a> implies that without the ark, there could be no sanctity in the Temple; thus even in the second Temple, the Ark was there, just hidden from the masses.<\/p>\n 3. But where do we find Rachel and Leah? <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n a. Here we move to two incredible comments by Rashi. In both, he notes the interesting shidduch<\/i> between two tribes who forge a bond to engineer the mishkan and [beit ha] mikdash. Betzalel and Oholiav build the mishkan while Shlomo and Chiram construct the Temple. Betzalel and Shlomo hearken from the tribe of Yehuda while Oholiav and Chiram are connected to Dan. Herein, Rashi\u2019s comments:<\/p>\n 1.He was from the Tribe of Dan, of the lowliest of the Tribes, one of the sons of [Yaakov’s] maidservants. Yet G-d equates him to Betzalel \u2026 and he (Betzalel) is from the greatest of the Tribes \u2026 to fulfill \u2026: He does not recognize the rich over the poor<\/u><\/b>.[Rashi, Shemot 35]<\/em><\/p>\n 2. Chiram\u2019s mother was from Dan and father from Naftoli and why does the text relate his yichus (lineage) \u2026Rachel said: If Leah shall glorify herself with her son who shall build the mishkan [Betzalel], then he will have to be accompanied with the son of Dan and if the son of my sister, [Shlomo] will build it, then he shall be accompanied by the son of Dan and Naftali [Chiram] [Rashi, Divrei HaYamim 2, 2:23]<\/em><\/p>\n Much in the midrash baffles and yet a significant message emerges: The mishkan architects represent yichus<\/i> (lineage) and lack thereof, embodying the idea that status\/stock is ultimately insignificant in one\u2019s personal relationship with God. Rachel and Leah, in their complex dynamic with Yaakov also occupy different positions. First, Rachel is beloved and Leah is senuah<\/i>. Ultimately, Leah emerges with the bulk of the tribes, the kingdom, the priesthood, and is buried with Yaakov in Chevron. She becomes the prime matriarch. No lesser yichus can exist than being Rachel\u2019s maidservant, Bilhah \u2013 who has two children Dan and Naftali. The mishkan\/mikdash is the product of that Yehuda-Dan-Naftali combination \u2013 teaching that in the end, yichus is only good enough to get you there<\/b>. One endowed with it dare not be complacent while no excuses can cover the one born without it.<\/p>\n As he lay on his death bed, the great sage Akavya [ben Mahalalel]\u2019s son pleads to his father to put in a good word<\/i> to the Sages on his behalf. Akavya\u2019s final words \u201cyour deeds shall bring you close, your deeds will keep you afar\u201d teach his son the ultimate lesson that as one comes home, hoping to find solace in a mama or a papa, there is no room to hide \u2013 for they are ultimately on their own.<\/p>\n In Sarah and Rivkah we find the need for constant and consistent spirituality; Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov direct us to the core areas of spiritual focus. Rachel and Leah remind us that in the ultimate scheme of things, spirituality is yours for the making.<\/p>\n As Jews who regularly frequent God\u2019s (mini) house, it would serve us well to remember not to leave the lessons of home at the door.<\/p>\n Good Shabbos<\/p>\n FOOTNOTES: Rabbi Asher Brander is the Rabbi of the Westwood Kehilla, Founder\/Dean of LINK (Los Angeles Intercommunity Kollel) and is a Rebbe at Yeshiva University High Schools of Los Angeles<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Everyone knows that the Mishkan is God\u2019s house. To Ramban however, it is also home. Consider: if there are \u201cthree partners in the creation of Man: God, the father, and the mother\u201d [Kiddushin 30b], then the Mishkan, our national abode and the place of that dynamic partnership, must resonate the subtle influence of ALL our<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":223,"featured_media":45210,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11567","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-torah"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/a>1. \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d4 (\u05dc) \u05d5\u05e0\u05ea\u05ea \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05e9\u05dc\u05d7\u05df \u05dc\u05d7\u05dd \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05ea\u05de\u05d9\u05d3 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d6 (\u05db) \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05ea\u05e6\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d1\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05d7\u05d5 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d9\u05da \u05e9\u05de\u05df \u05d6\u05d9\u05ea \u05d6\u05da \u05db\u05ea\u05d9\u05ea \u05dc\u05de\u05d0\u05d5\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d4\u05e2\u05dc\u05ea \u05e0\u05e8 \u05ea\u05de\u05d9\u05d3: \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d8 (\u05d8\u05d5) \u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05d5\u05dd \u05d4\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05db\u05df \u05db\u05e1\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e2\u05e0\u05df \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05db\u05df \u05dc\u05d0\u05d4\u05dc \u05d4\u05e2\u05d3\u05ea \u05d5\u05d1\u05e2\u05e8\u05d1 \u2026 (\u05d8\u05d6) \u05db\u05df \u05d9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05ea\u05de\u05d9\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e2\u05e0\u05df \u05d9\u05db\u05e1\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d5\u05de\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4
\n<\/a>2. \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05e9\u05ea \u05dc\u05d5\u05d9 – \u05dc\u05e7\u05d5\u05d8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d6\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d6”\u05dc \u05e9\u05dc\u05d7\u05df \u05d1\u05e6\u05e4\u05d5\u05df \u05d5\u05de\u05e0\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d3\u05e8\u05d5\u05dd, \u05d3\u05d4\u05e0\u05d4 \u05db\u05dc \u05d4\u05d4\u05e9\u05e4\u05e2\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d4\u05d7\u05e1\u05d3\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d4\u05e8\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05d1\u05d0\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd \u05e0\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc\u05d7\u05df \u05d5\u05d6\u05d4\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d1\u05e6\u05e4\u05d5
\n<\/a>3. \u05d9\u05dc\u05e7\u05d5\u05d8 \u05e9\u05de\u05e2\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0 – \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d1 – \u05e8\u05de\u05d6 \u05ea\u05ea\u05e8\u05e4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4’ \u05d4\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d6\u05d4 \u05de\u05d6\u05d1\u05d7 \u05dc\u05e2\u05d5\u05dc\u05d4,.. \u05d1\u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d0 \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05de\u05e0\u05db\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e6\u05d5\u05e8\u05ea\u05d5, \u05d0\u05dc\u05d0 \u05de\u05d6\u05d1\u05d7 \u05de\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d3\u05e2\u05d9, \u05d0”\u05e8 \u05d0\u05dc\u05e2\u05d6\u05e8 \u05e8\u05d0\u05d5 \u05de\u05d6\u05d1\u05d7 \u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05db\u05d0\u05dc \u05d4\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d2\u05d3\u05d5\u05dc \u05de\u05e7\u05e8\u05d9\u05d1 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5, \u05d5\u05e8’ \u05d9\u05e6\u05d7\u05e7 \u05e0\u05e4\u05d7\u05d0 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e4\u05e8\u05d5 \u05e9\u05dc \u05d9\u05e6\u05d7\u05e7 \u05e8\u05d0\u05d5 \u05e6\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d5\u05de\u05d5\u05e0\u05d7 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea\u05d5 \u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd
\n<\/a>4. \u05e8\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d7 \u05e4\u05e1\u05d5\u05e7 \u05d9\u05d2 -\u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d4’ \u05e0\u05e6\u05d1 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 – \u05e2”\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e4\u05e9\u05d8 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d4\u05e1\u05d5\u05dc\u05dd. \u05d5\u05e2”\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d1\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1, \u05d5\u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d4\u05db\u05ea\u05d5\u05d1 \u05dc\u05db\u05e8\u05d5\u05d1 \u05e9\u05db\u05ea\u05d5\u05d1 \u05d1\u05d5 (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05d7) \u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05db\u05d1 \u05e2\u05dc \u05db\u05e8\u05d5\u05d1 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e2\u05d5\u05e3, \u05db\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d0\u05d1\u05d5\u05ea \u05d4\u05dd \u05d4\u05dd \u05d4\u05de\u05e8\u05db\u05d1\u05d4 \u05db\u05d3\u05d5\u05d2\u05de\u05ea \u05db\u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc \u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4. \u05d5\u05db\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d9\u05d3\u05e2\u05ea \u05db\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1 \u05e0\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e7\u05d8\u05df. \u05d5\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d0\u05de\u05ea \u05d1\u05e2\u05e0\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05db\u05e8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05e4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05e8\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d5\u05d0\u05e4\u05d9 \u05d6\u05d5\u05d8\u05e8\u05d9.. \u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05d0\u05d9\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d1\u05da \u05db\u05d9 \u05e6\u05d5\u05e8\u05ea \u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1 \u05d7\u05e7\u05d5\u05e7\u05d4 \u05d1\u05db\u05e1\u05d0 \u05d4\u05db\u05d1\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d5\u05de\u05d6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05db\u05ea\u05d5\u05d1 (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05db\u05d4) \u05d9\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1 \u05d0\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd, \u05d0\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9 \u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d5\u05de\u05d8\u05d4. \u05d5\u05de\u05e4\u05d5\u05e8\u05e9 \u05de\u05d6\u05d4 \u05ea\u05de\u05e6\u05d0 \u05d1\u05de\u05ea\u05df \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 (\u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05db\u05d3) \u05d5\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05ea\u05d7\u05ea \u05e8\u05d2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5, \u05d1 \u05dc\u05e8\u05de\u05d5\u05d6 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05ea\u05d7\u05ea \u05e8\u05d2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5. \u05d5\u05d6\u05d4\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d6\u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05ea\u05d7\u05ea \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05e0\u05db\u05d9, \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d1\u05ea\u05de\u05d9\u05d4, \u05d5\u05d4\u05d1\u05df \u05d6\u05d4
\n<\/a>5. Cf. Ramban [Shemos, 38:21]who teaches that the mishkan haeidus (tabernacle of testimony) is so named after the luchos haeidus (tabkets of testimony) further enforcing the notionthat the Aron was the cenral theme of the mishkan\/mikdash
\n<\/a>6. \u05e8\u05de\u05d1”\u05dd \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05d1\u05d7\u05d9\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d3:\u05d0 – \u05d0\u05d1\u05df \u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05de\u05e2\u05e8\u05d1\u05d5 \u05e9\u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05de\u05d5\u05e0\u05d7 \u05d5\u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e6\u05e0\u05e6\u05e0\u05ea \u05d4\u05de\u05df \u05d5\u05de\u05d8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d4\u05e8\u05df \u05d5\u05d1\u05e2\u05ea \u05e9\u05d1\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05d9\u05d3\u05e2 \u05e9\u05e1\u05d5\u05e4\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d1\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d5 \u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05dc\u05d2\u05e0\u05d5\u05d6 \u05d1\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05dc\u05de\u05d8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05de\u05d8\u05de\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05e2\u05de\u05d5\u05e7\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05e2\u05e7\u05dc\u05e7\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d9\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5 \u05d4\u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05e6\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d2\u05e0\u05d6\u05d5 \u05d1\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05e9\u05d1\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d4 … \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05dc\u05d5\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05de\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05db\u05dc \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d4\u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05d9\u05d9’ \u05ea\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d0\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05d4\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9 \u05d1\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc\u05de\u05d4 \u05d1\u05df \u05d3\u05d5\u05d9\u05d3 \u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc … \u05d5\u05d2\u05d5’ \u05d5\u05e0\u05d2\u05e0\u05d6 \u05e2\u05de\u05d5 \u05de\u05d8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d4\u05e8\u05df \u05d5\u05d4\u05e6\u05e0\u05e6\u05e0\u05ea \u05d5\u05e9\u05de\u05df \u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05d7\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05dc \u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d7\u05d6\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05e9\u05e0\u05d9<\/p>\n
\n