tabernacle
The Shewbread: A Reminder That God Provides Our Physical Sustenance
By the time we read the Torah portion of Emor (Leviticus 21-24), the Tabernacle has been built along with all of its necessary utensils. The Kohanim (priests) stand at the ready in the Biblically mandated clothes. But some necessary...
Alien Fire: What Exactly Was the Sin of Nadab and Abihu
The Torah describes the death of Nadab and Abihu, the two eldest of Aaron’s four sons, as a punishment for bringing “alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them” (Leviticus 10:1). The tragedy took place on the eighth day of the...
The Continuous Flame on the Altar and in Our Hearts
The altar in the Tabernacle was, of course, for burning the sacrifices, but the Torah commanded that the fire be kept burning constantly, night and day, regardless of whether or not there was a sacrifice to burn. The Jerusalem Talmud...
The Accounting of the Materials Used for the Tabernacle: a Precedent for Honest Business Dealings
The Tabernacle and all its components required large amounts of costly materials so, after its construction, Moses gave an accounting of materials that had been used (Exodus 38:21). This required that in addition to being a prophet,...
Why Are the Details of the Tabernacle Repeated?
After describing the instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle in great detail, the Torah then repeats these details, describing the same elements after the Tabernacle has been erected. Of course, the Tabernacle is the place for...
The Clouds of Glory: Living in God’s Shelter
After the Tabernacle is fully assembled, God descends upon it in a cloud of glory: The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of Hashem filled the Mishkan. Exodus 40:34 The Hebrew word for ‘glory,’ kavod (כָּבוֹד), is perhaps...
The Tabernacle: Giving From the Heart
The Torah describes how the Children of Israel brought so many voluntary offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle that Moses called a stop to donations. The people gave so enthusiastically that there was enough for the...
Why We Read About the Silver Half-Shekel Before the Month of Adar
Shabbat Shekalim is the last Shabbat preceding the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar*, or the 1st of Adar itself if the month begins on Shabbat. In synagogues, the Torah portion describing the bringing of the silver half-shekel is...
The 39 Acts Forbidden on the Sabbath
After the instructions for the Tabernacle are given and right before the actual construction of the Tabernacle begins, Moses gives an incongruous message commanding the Jews to rest on Shabbat (Exodus 35:1-3). In no fewer than 12 places,...
Why Was the Laver Made From the Mirrors of the Women?
At the beginning of the Torah portion of Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20), the Torah again described the materials that were collected for use in creating the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-9). In the case of the laver, the Torah even describes the...
