Parshat Terumah goes into extensive detail of the construction of the Mishkan. The parsha covers many components of the parsha, one of which is the Aron Hakodesh, otherwise known as the Holy Ark.
In this Parsha, Hashem's commandment to Moshe to build the Aron differs from his command to design the other components of the Mishkan. For the other parts of the holy Mishkan, Hashem commanded Moshe, "You should build...", which take note, is singular. Then when Hashem commands the Aron to be built, He says, "They should build the Aron", which is plural!
Why did the command change? Why this difference?!
The Midrash Rabbah on Shemot explains that when Hashem commanded, "They should build the Aron", it was a specific commandment from Hashem that every single Jew had to personally contribute to the building of the Aron( so that they could all merit the Torah), unlike the rest of the components of the Mishkan.
A story explaining The Midrash Rabah's answer:
ReplyDeleteThere was once a Jewish boxer who was very far removed from Judaism. His son didn’t have a Bar Mitzvah, but as he grew up, he became interested in learning more about his roots and found himself studying with great diligence in a local yeshiva. When he came home each night, he immersed himself in the review of that day’s studies.
His father, who was himself engrossed in watching television, couldn’t fathom what could be so stimulating and enjoyable about the study of the Gemora. Eventually, the father began begging his son to teach him the Talmud. The son dismissed him, explaining that he didn’t even know Hebrew and certainly couldn’t understand a page of difficult Aramaic text. The father pressed his son to at least give him a taste by teaching him just one daf of the Gemora. The son agreed, but it was a long, difficult, project. Line by line they continued, forgetting, reviewing, and plodding forward until after one full year they finally realized their goal and completed the study of an entire page of the Talmud.
The father asked his son to make a siyum to celebrate their accomplishment, but the son explained that one must complete an entire seder of gemara to make a siyum. The father persisted with his request, and the son agreed to ask Rav Moshe Feinstein. Rav Moshe not only ruled that under the circumstances was it permissible to make a siyum, but insisted that he himself would attend.
The night after the siyum, the boxer died in his sleep. Eulogizing the man, Rav Moshe commented that just as the Gemora teaches (Avodah Zara 17a) that some people acquire their portion in the World to Come through one deed, this man acquired it through one daf.
In light of this story, we can appreciate the answer to this question. The Aron, with the Torah scroll and luchot inside, represents the study of Torah. Although Hashem was able to individually command Moshe to make the other vessels, the Torah belongs to every one of the Jewish people to study on his individual level. The Aron could not be made by one man because the Torah cannot be learned by one man.
Each of us has his own unique portion in Torah. It may be completing the entire Shas, it may be finishing one daf, and it may be studying on the phone one hour weekly. The key is to always remember “Whatever we do, it’s never too little, it’s never too late, and it’s never enough.”
The Shemot Rabbah also says that bnei were commanded to build the Mishkan to make up for Chait haAgel. Hashem's acceptance of karbanot will prove his forgiveness.
ReplyDelete25:2 "Speak to the children of Israel and let them take a portion for Me, from every man of generous heart you shall take my portion"
ReplyDeleteWhy does the verse begin in third person plural "let them take" and end with "you shall take" which is singular?
The Maharil explains that Hashem entrusted Moshe and Aaron with the entire mission of collecting donations because with their holiness they were able to see on a persons face when they were reluctant to give money. In these situation Moshe and Aaron would not ask for a donation from this person and only in homes where the donation was offered would they accept it.
Hashem therefore made two collection systems. Moshe would collect donations by appointing collectors - explaining why it says "Let them take a portion for Me" and why it is in plural. and in the cases of people who were reluctant, but still decided to be generous even though it was not easy for them - Moshe and Aaron would collect from them with sensitivity.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ramban explains that the commandment to build the Mishkan follows the revelation at Har Sinai (The Midrash says that Mishpatim is a continuation of the Aseret Hadibrot). He says that the function of the Mishkan was to continue the revelation and to build a central Mikdash from which Hashem’s voice would continue to emanate and direct Bnei Yisrael. Moshe mentions this idea of a continuous revelation when he speaks to Bnei Yisrael. He says “Hashem spoke these words to your entire assembly(כָּל קְהַלְכֶם)from on the mountain amidst the fire, the cloud and the fog, a great voice which never stops (לֹא יָסָף)”(Devarim ה:יט). Just like Hashem spoke to everyone from Har Sinai, so too here when discussing the Mishkan, He refers to everyone(they).
ReplyDeleteBnei Yisrael are commanded to build most of the keilim in the Mishkan like the menorah and the mizbeyachs with the command "and you will make." But for the Aron, they are commanded "and they will make." Rambam says that the Aron contains the witness for the connection the people have with god, and that is something that all people have the ability to do, regardless of social status or anything else, therefore t says "they"
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