[Par-lite] For Parshat Vayakhel
Menachem Leibtag
tsc at bezeqint.net
Thu Mar 12 03:32:35 EDT 2015
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THE TANACH STUDY CENTER
[http://www.tanach.org]
In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem
Leibtag
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PARSHAT VAYAKHEL
Is Parshat Vayakhel simply a repeat of
Parshat Teruma?
Indeed, the details of the mishkan are
practically
identical in both parshiot - however, their
manner of
presentation is quite different.
To explain why, this week's shiur first
considers the
different purpose of each Parsha. Afterward,
we will attempt
to tackle the more difficult question
concerning the necessity
of this 'repetition'.
INTRODUCTION
Before we discuss the similarities
between Teruma and
Vayakhel, let's first note the obvious
difference between
these two Parshiot.
In Parshat Teruma / Tetzaveh, the Torah
records God's
commandment to Moshe to build the mishkan -
or in Hebrew, what
we refer to as 'tzivui ha-mishkan'. In
contrast, Parshat
Vayakhel / Pekudei describes how Moshe
conveyed these
instructions to Bnei Yisrael.
Let's explain how this affects their order:
THE ORDER IN PARSHAT TERUMA
The primary focus of the tzivui
ha-mishkan unit (i.e.
chapters 25-29) is the tabernacle's function,
hence this unit
opens with its 'statement of purpose':
"And you shall build for Me a mikdash in
order that I shall
dwell among you" (see 25:1-8).
and closes with an almost identical
statement:
"And I shall dwell among Bnei Yisrael, and
I will be for
them a God, and they shall know..." (see
29:45-46).
In our shiur on Parshat Tetzaveh, we
explained how these
opening and closing psukim serve as 'matching
bookends' that
highlight how the Mishkan serves first and
foremost as the
place where God's shchina can dwell with His
nation. This
observation helped us understand the logic of
its flow in
topic.
For example, that unit began by
describing the aron [ark
of the covenant], which will house the luchot
[tablets] - the
symbol of brit Sinai - and hence the focal
point of the
mishkan, as well as the kaporet, the
protective cover of the
aron, from where God will speak to Moshe.
The next set of parshiot described the
various 'keilim'
(vessels) that are situated in the ohel
mo'ed, such as the
menora and shulchan (25:23-40). This was
followed by a
detailed description of the ohel moed -the
portable structure
[i.e. the canvas for the tent /'yeriot
ha-mishkan' and its
poles /'kerashim' (see 26:1-37)] that will
house those
vessels.
In this unit, the description of vessels
precedes the
details of that tent, for they perform its
key functions,
while the structure that houses them serves
only a secondary
function.
These instructions are followed by the
commandment to
build an altar ['mizbach ha-nechoshet'],
which will be placed
in front of this ohel mo'ed (see 27:1-8), and
a courtyard
['chatzer'] constructed from curtains and
poles that would
encompass it (see 27:9-19).
This Shchina unit concludes with the
laws concerning the
kohanim who are to officiate in the mishkan
(chapter 28), and
the seven day dedication ceremony (chapter
29).
In chapters 30 and 31 we found an
additional unit, that
contained a list of peripheral mitzvot
relating to the
mishkan (and its protection from the
shchina], including
the 'mizbach ketoret' and the 'kiyor'.]
At the very conclusion of the tzivui
ha-mishkan we find the
instruction to appoint Betzalel to build the
mishkan, and the
important reminder not to build it on
Shabbat.
The following table summarizes this
order in Parshat
Teruma according to its most general
categories:
Intro - Shchina
Keilim - the vessels (chapter 25)
* The aron - which will house the luchot
The kaporet - from where God will speak to
Moshe
* The shulchan - on which the lechem will
be placed
* The menora - which will provide light
Structure - the ohel mo'ed (the tent -
chapter 26)
* The yeriot
* The krashim
* The "parochet"
Chatzer - The courtyard (chapter 27)
* The mizbeiach - the altar in front of
the ohel mo'ed
* The courtyard - "amudei ve-kelei
ha-chatzer"
Kohanim (chapters 28 & 29)
* The bigdei kehuna
* The dedication ceremony (milu'im)
Misc. Topics (chapter 30)
The Builder - Betzalel (chapter 31)
Shabbat (not to build the mishkan on Shabbat/
31:11-17)
In contrast to this 'functional order',
the order in
Parshat Vayakhel is quite different, for in
this unit - Moshe
must explain to Bnei Yisrael how to build the
mishkan.
Therefore, the sequence will follow a more
practical order,
reflecting the considerations of its
construction.
For example, the tent will precede the
vessels, for the
ohel moed will house them. Furthermore, this
time, the mizbach
ketoret will be included with the other
vessels, even though
its function in regard to the shechina is
different.
Similarly, this time the kiyor will be
recorded together with
the mizbach ha'Olah.
The following table summarizes this
'practical' order, as
presented in Parshat Vayakhel:
Shabbat
* Guidelines re: when construction work is
permitted (35:1-3);
Teruma
* The collection of the building materials
(35:4-29);
The Builder
* The appointment of the chief architect -
Betzalel - and
his fellow artisans (35:30-36:7);
Structure - the ohel mo'ed - the tent
(36:8-38):
* the yeriot
* the kerashim
* the parochet
Keilim (chapter 37)
* the aron
* shulchan
* menora
* mizbach ktoret (from misc. above)
Chatzer (chapter 38)
* the mizbeiach
* the kiyor (from misc. above)
* the courtyard
Kohanim (chapter 39)
* their garments
Construction
* assembly of the mishkan on the 1st of
Nissan (40:1-33)
Shchina
* God's glory dwells on the mishkan
(40:34-38)
As you review (and compare) these two
tables, be sure to
note their similarities and differences.
Doing so, while
considering this distinction between
'function' and
'construction', will help you understand how
and why the order
in Vayakhel / Pekudei differs from the order
in Teruma /
Tetzaveh.
[Note as well that the mizbach ha-ktoret
and the kiyor
that were omitted (for thematic reasons)
from the Shchina
unit in Teruma / Tetzaveh are now
included (for practical
reasons) in Parshat Vayakhel - right
where they belong!
[See also TSC shiur on Parshat
Tetzaveh.]
WHY THE REPETITION?
With this distinction in mind, let's
consider now a more
basic question, i.e. the very need to repeat
anything!
After all, the building of the mishkan was
only a 'one-
time' mitzva. Would it not have been
sufficient for the Torah
to simply tell us in one pasuk that Bnei
Yisrael constructed
the mishkan 'as God commanded Moshe on Har
Sinai'?
To answer this question, we return to
our study of the
overall theme of Sefer Shmot.
THE MISHKAN EXCLUSIVE
In Sefer Shmot, from the time that Moshe
ascended Har
Sinai to receive the first luchot (see
24:12), the mishkan
emerged as its primary focus. Even though
Moshe received
numerous other laws during these forty days,
in chapters 25
thru 31 Sefer Shmot records only those
mitzvot relating to the
mishkan.
Likewise, when Moshe descends from Har
Sinai (after the
last forty days), even though the Torah
informs us that he
conveyed all the mitzvot to Bnei Yisrael at
that time (see
34:32), nevertheless Sefer Shmot chooses to
record only
Moshe's transmission of the mitzvot
concerning the mishkan
(i.e. chapters 35->40). All the other
mitzvot appear only
later, in the books of Vayikra, Bamidbar and
Devarim (see
Chizkuni 34:32)!
So the question is not only - why the
'repeat'; but also
why the exclusivity of the mishkan in Sefer
Shmot?
Ramban, in his explanation of the
overall theme of Sefer
Shmot, suggests an answer:
"... Sefer Shmot discusses the exile [i.e.
the slavery in
Egypt]... and Bnei Yisrael's redemption
from that exile...
for the descent of the children of Yaakov
to Egypt marked
the beginning of that exile... and that
exile does not end
until they return to the spiritual level of
their
forefathers... Even though Bnei Yisrael had
left Egypt
[i.e. physical redemption], they are not
yet considered
redeemed... [However,] when they reach Har
Sinai and build
the mishkan, and God returns His Shchina to
dwell among
them, then they have returned to the
spiritual level of
their forefathers [spiritual redemption]...
Therefore,
Sefer Shmot concludes with the topic of the
mishkan and the
constant dwelling of God's Glory upon it
[for this marks
the completion of the Redemption process]."
(see Ramban, introduction to
Sefer Shmot)
According to Ramban, Sefer Shmot
concludes with the story
of the mishkan because its construction marks
the completion
of Bnei Yisrael's redemption. His
explanation can help us
understand the manner in which the Torah
repeats the details
of the mishkan in parshiot Vayakhel /
Pekudei.
SPIRITUAL REHABILITATION
As Ramban explained, the 'spiritual
level' that Bnei
Yisrael had achieved at Ma'amad Har Sinai was
lost as a result
of chet ha-egel. Consequently, God had
removed His Shchina
from Bnei Yisrael (see Shmot 33:1-7),
effectively thwarting
the redemption process that began with
Yetziat Mitzrayim.
Moshe Rabeinu's intervention on Bnei
Yisrael's behalf
(see 32:11-14) certainly saved them from
immediate punishment
and secured their atonement (see 32:30,
34:9). However, that
prayer alone could not restore Bnei Yisrael
to the spiritual
level achieved at Har Sinai. The Shchina,
which was to have
resided in their midst, remained outside the
camp (see 33:7,
read carefully!).
Moshe interceded once again (see
33:12-16), whereupon God
declared his thirteen 'attributes of mercy'
(33:17-34:8), thus
allowing Bnei Yisrael a 'second chance'.
Nonetheless, the
Shchina did not return automatically. To
bring the Shchina
back, it would be necessary for Bnei Yisrael
to do something -
they must actively and collectively involve
themselves in the
process of building the mishkan.
In other words, Bnei Yisrael required
what we might call
'spiritual rehabilitation'. Their collective
participation in
the construction of the mishkan helped repair
the strain in
their relationship with God brought about by
chet ha-egel.
Or, using more 'kabalistic' terminology, the
construction of
the mishkan functioned as a 'tikkun' for chet
ha-egel.
A closer examination of parshiot
Vayakhel / Pekudei
supports this interpretation and can explain
why Sefer Shmot
repeats the details of the mishkan in
Vayakhel / Pekudei.
TEXTUAL PARALLELS
Let's take for example the Torah's use
of the word
'vayakhel' at the beginning of the parsha.
This immediately
brings to mind the opening line of the chet
ha-egel narrative:
"Va-yikahel ha-am al Aharon - and the
nation gathered
against Aharon..." (32:1).
This new 'gathering' of the people - for
the purpose of
building the mishkan, can be understood as a
'tikkun' for that
original gathering to build the egel. As
opposed to their
assembly to fashion the golden calf, Bnei
Yisrael now gather
to build a more 'proper' symbol of God's
presence.
Similarly, the commandment for the
people to 'donate
their gold' and other belongings for this
project (see 35:5)
can also be understood as a tikkun for
Aharon's solicitation
of the people's gold for the egel (32:2-3).
However, the strongest proof is the
Torah's glaring
repetition of the phrase: "ka'asher tziva
Hashem et Moshe"
["as God commanded Moshe"]. This phrase not
only appears in
both the opening commandment (35:1 & 35:4)
and the finale
(39:32 & 39:43), but it is repeated like a
chorus over twenty
times throughout Vayakhel-Pekudei, at every
key point of the
construction process. [I recommend that you
note this using a
Tanach Koren. See 35:29; 36:1; 36:5;
39:1,5,7,21,26,29,31,32,42,43; and especially
in
40:16,19,21,23,25,27,29,32, as each part of
the mishkan is put
into its proper place.]
Clearly, the Torah's repetition of this
phrase is
intentional, and may very well point to the
mishkan's function
as a tikkun for chet ha-egel. Let's explain
why:
Recall from our shiur on Parshat Ki Tisa
that the
people's initial intention at chet ha-egel
was to make a
physical representation of their perception
of God. Despite
the innocence of such aspirations per se, a
man-made
representation, no matter how pure its
intention, may lead to
idol worship (see Shmot 20:20). This does
not mean, however,
that God cannot ever be represented by a
physical symbol.
When God Himself chooses the symbol, it is
not only permitted,
but it becomes a mitzva. It is this
symbolism that makes the
mishkan so important. [See 23:17,19; 34:24,
Devarim 12:5,11 &
16:16.]
The Torah therefore stresses that Bnei
Yisrael have now
'learned their lesson'. They construct the
mishkan precisely
'as God commanded Moshe,' down to the very
last detail,
understanding that there is no room for human
innovation when
choosing a symbol for His Divine Presence.
AN APPROPRIATE FINALE
This concept of tikkun for chet ha-egel
finds further
support in the very conclusion of Sefer
Shmot.
Although the aspect of Shchina (a
central feature in
Teruma / Tetzaveh) is mentioned nowhere
throughout the detail
of the mishkan's construction in Vayakhel /
Pekudei, it makes
a sudden reappearance at the very end of the
sefer. After
each component of the mishkan is put into
place on the first
of Nissan (see 40:1-33), this entire process
reaches its
dramatic climax:
"When Moshe had finished his work, the anan
(cloud) covered
the ohel mo'ed and God's kavod ('glory')
filled the
mishkan" (40:34).
This pasuk describes the dwelling of the
Shchina on the
mishkan in the exact same terms used to
depict the dwelling of
the Shchina on Har Sinai:
"When Moshe ascended the har [Mount Sinai,
to receive the
first luchot], the anan covered the har,
and kvod Hashem
(God's glory) dwelled upon Har Sinai..."
(24:15-
16).
Clearly, the Torah intentionally
parallels, thereby
associating, the descent of the Shchina onto
Har Sinai with
the dwelling of the Shchina on the mishkan.
Only after Bnei
Yisrael meticulously complete the
construction of the mishkan
- precisely 'as God commanded Moshe' - does
the Shchina return
to Bnei Yisrael and dwell therein (40:34),
just as it had
dwelled on Har Sinai.
Thus, the end of Sefer Shmot marks the
completion of the
tikkun for chet ha-egel. Accordingly, as
Ramban posits, the
entire 'redemption process' - the theme of
Sefer Shmot - has
also reached its culmination.
The Shchina's return to the camp also
signifies Bnei
Yisrael's return to the stature they had lost
after the golden
calf. Recall that in the aftermath of that
incident:
"Moshe took his tent and set it up outside
the camp, far
away from the camp, and called it the ohel
mo'ed [tent of
meeting (with God)], such that anyone who
would search for
God was required to go out to this ohel
mo'ed, outside the
camp" [see 33:7 and its context in
33:1-11].
This ohel mo'ed, located outside the
camp, symbolized the
distancing of the Shchina. Once the mishkan
is built, God
will bring His Shchina back inside the camp.
[See 25:8 and
29:45.]
BACK TO BREISHIT
Thus far, we have shown that the manner
by which Bnei
Yisrael construct the mishkan serves as a
tikkun for chet ha-
egel and relates to the overall theme of
Sefer Shmot.
One could suggest that the very concept
of a mishkan -
irrespective of its mode of construction -
may constitute a
more general tikkun, beyond the specific
context of the golden
calf. In this sense, the mishkan relates to
a more general
biblical theme developed in Sefer Breishit.
As explained in our shiurim on Sefer
Breishit, the Garden
of Eden reflects the ideal spiritual
environment in which Man
cultivates his relationship with God. After
Adam sinned and
was consequently banished from the Garden,
God placed keruvim
to guard the path of return to the Tree of
Life (see Breishit
3:24).
It may not be coincidental that the
mishkan is the only
other context throughout the entire Chumash
where the concept
of keruvim appears. Recall how the mishkan
features keruvim:
1) on the kaporet as protectors of the
aron, which
contains the luchot (Shmot 25:22), and
2) woven into the parochet, the curtain
which guards the
entrance into the kodesh ha-kodashim -
the Holy of Holies
(where the aron and kaporet are located).
This parallel suggests a conceptual
relationship between
Gan Eden and the mishkan. The symbolic
function of the
keruvim as guardians of the kodesh kodashim
may correspond to
the mishkan's function as an environment
similar to Gan Eden,
where man can strive to come closer to God:
1) The keruvim of the kaporet, protecting
the aron,
indicate that the 'Tree of Life' of Gan
Eden has been
replaced by the Torah, represented by the
luchot inside the
aron.
["Etz chayim hi la-machazikim bah" - see
Mishlei 3:1-18.]
2) The keruvim woven into the parochet
remind man that his
entry into the kodesh kodashim, although
desired, remains
limited and requires spiritual readiness.
[Note that keruvim are also woven into
the innermost
covering of the mishkan (see Shmot
26:1-2).]
In this sense, we may view the mishkan
as a tikkun for
Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden. Should man
wish to return
to the Tree of Life, he must keep God's
covenant - the laws of
the Torah - as symbolized by the luchot
ha-eidut in the aron,
protected by the keruvim.
If so, then the Torah's repetition of
the laws of the
mishkan, as well as there exclusivity, may be
alluding to one
of the most important themes of Chumash -
man's never ending
quest to develop a relationship with his
Creator.
shabbat shalom,
menachem
=====================
FOR FURTHER IYUN
A. An important clarification
It is important that we clarify this
tikkun aspect of the
mishkan.
We do not claim that the mishkan itself
constitutes a
tikkun for chet ha-egel. Rather, the manner
by which Bnei
Yisrael must build it serves as a tikkun.
Consequently, our
analysis here stands independent of the
controversy between
Rashi and Ramban as to when God commanded the
building of the
mishkan. As we explained in our shiur on
Parshat Teruma,
Ramban (mishkan commanded before chet
ha-egel) and Rashi
(mishkan commanded after chet ha-egel) argue
only whether the
need for a temporary mishkan resulted from
chet ha-egel.
However, Rashi must agree that the basic
concept of a mikdash
is necessary to perpetuate the experience of
Har Sinai, just
as Ramban in Parshat Vayakhel must agree that
the manner in
which Bnei Yisrael ultimately construct the
mishkan reflects
their correction of the sin of chet ha-egel.
B. 'Shchina tamid'
We stated that Teruma / Tetzaveh
describes the function
of each object in the mishkan. It may be
suggested that the
actual function of each 'kli' relates to the
constant presence
of the Shchina in the mishkan.
The following table demonstrates the
three levels of
kedusha in the mishkan, according to the
functions of the
accessories contained in the three regions of
the mishkan:
Kodesh Kodashim
the aron - contains the 'luchot
ha-eidut'
the kaporet - from where God will speak
to Moshe
Kodesh
the shulchan - 'lechem panim lefa'nai
tamid'
the menora - 'leha'alot ner tamid'
the mizbach zahav - 'lehaktir ktoret
tamid'
Chatzer ha-mishkan
the mizbach nechoshet- 'lehakriv olat
tamid'
The kodesh kodashim contains the luchot,
the eternal
testament to the covenant at Har Sinai. God
speaks to Moshe
from in between the keruvim (25:21-22), thus
perpetuating the
Har Sinai experience. In this domain, God
'comes down' to
man; as such, no 'avoda' (ritual) is
performed.
Outside this domain, in the kodesh, the
kohanim perform
their daily avodat tamid - lighting the
menora, offering the
ktoret, and keeping bread on the shulchan.
Outside the mishkan is the chatzer
(courtyard). Here, Am
Yisrael collectively offer their korban tamid
on the
mizbeiach.
[See shiur on Parshat Tetzaveh for a complete
analysis.]
Significantly, each 'kli' requires an
'avodat tamid'.
The word tamid means everlasting or
continuous. Am Yisrael
must perform their daily avodat tamid in
order to deserve the
continuous presence of the Shchina.
A relationship with God does not come
automatically; it
requires constant effort on the individual's
part.
C. Beyond the parallels between the mishkan
and Gan Eden (as
noted in the shiur), there exist as well
textual parallels
between the mishkan and the story of Creation
in the first
perek of Sefer Breishit. For example,
"va-techel kol avodat
ha-mishkan..." (39:32) and "va-yar Moshe et
kol ha-melacha..."
(39:43) correspond to Breishit 1:31 and 2:1.
Indeed, several
Midrashim view the mishkan as the completion
of the Creation
process.
1. Based on the above shiur, explain this
parallel.
2. The entire mishkan plan is repeated a
total of seven times
in Sefer Shmot: Teruma Tetzaveh - 25:10-30:38
/ 31:7-11,
Vayk.Pkd: 35:11-19 /36:8-39:32 /39:33-42
/40:1-16
/40:17-33.
Connect this as well to Breishit 1 (the
seven-day process
of creation).
3. Relate this parallel to the location of
mitzvat shabbat,
which concludes the tzivui ha-mishkan unit
(31:12-17) and
opens the binyan ha-mishkan unit (35:1-4).
D. The highest level of hitgalut,
experienced by Moshe
(33:11) and Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai (Dvarim
5:4), is known
as 'panim be-fanim' - literally, face to
face. When God
'changed' His attributes to 'midot
ha-rachamim' (Shmot 33:17-
34:9), He states that man can no longer see
His 'face', only
His 'back' (33:20-23).
1. Find the allusions to the human face in
the mishkan:
For example: menora=eyes,
shulchan=mouth, etc.
2. In your opinion, could this represent
'pnei Hashem'?
3. How would the aron fit within this
parallel?
How about the function of the 'orot izim
ve-elim' as a
cover for the mishkan?
4. Accordingly, what is the significance of
the 'masach le-
petach ha-mishkan" and the parochet, and the
general concept
of limited entry into the mishkan?
5. According to Rashi, would this have been
the structure of
the mikdash before chet ha-egel? According
to Ramban?
E. The theme of Sefer Shmot
Throughout our study of Sefer Shmot, we
traced three
primary topics: (1) the Exodus (Yetziat
Mitzrayim,
chapters 1->17);
(2) Ma'amad Har Sinai (chapters
19->24, 32->34);
(3) the mishkan (chapters 25->31,
35->40).
Based on the above shiur, we can suggest
a fundamental
relationship between these three sections:
1) Through the process of Yetziat Mitzrayim,
God fulfills His
covenant with the Avot (the theme of
Sefer Breishit) to
redeem Bnei Yisrael from their bondage in
Egypt so as to
facilitate their development into His
special nation.
2) To become this special nation, God and
Bnei Yisrael enter
into a covenant at Har Sinai (chapters
19->24). Bnei
Yisrael receive the commandments which
will mold their
national and individual characters,
transforming them into
God's special nation.
3) The mishkan, the symbol of the special
relationship
established at Har Sinai, becomes the
vehicle through
which that relationship can continue.
Although chet ha-
egel calls into question Bnei Yisrael's
ability to survive
the terms of this covenant, the new terms
of the second
luchot allow them to build the mishkan,
to which the
Shchina returns.
An important pasuk in Parshat Tetzaveh
highlights this
overall theme. As explained in our shiur on
that parasha,
chapters 25-29, which appear amidst God's
instructions
regarding the mishkan,, form a distinct unit
which we may call
the 'Shchina unit' (compare 25:8 with 29:45).
The closing pasuk of that unit - "And I
shall dwell among
the people of Israel, and I will be their
God" (29:45) - is
followed by an important summary pasuk:
"And you shall know that I am the Lord
your God who took
you out of the Land of Egypt - leshochni
betocham - in
order to dwell among you; I am the Lord
your God"
(29:46).
This pasuk accurately reflects the overall
theme of Sefer
Shmot. It ties together (1) Yetziat
Mitzrayim, (2) Matan
Torah, and (3) the mishkan with the concept
of Shchina. God
takes Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt in order that
they become His
nation, and this relationship reaches its
highest level with
the presence of the Shchina. This level was
attained at Har
Sinai, and it forever remains within Bnei
Yisrael's reach
through the 'heir' and closest substitute to
Har Sinai - the
mishkan.
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