Monthly Archives: March 2023

Pikudei 5782

Pekudei

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THE PICTURE AND THE PUZZLE

With the Ukrainian Russian conflict on everyone’s mind how can we not address this issue in TableTalk? I am certainly not a person whose opinion regarding this conflict has much value. I do, however, have much sentiment invested in the conflict.

With Parshas Pikudei we will conclude the second Book of Shemos. The very last few verses jump ahead, chronologically, because they reflect an event that will not take place until the third Parsha of the next Book of Vayikra. Those last verses tell us how Moshe erected the Mishkan upon its completion in the beginning of their second year of leaving Egypt. The reason for this jump is because it is only with this momentous event that our people achieve their mission and it is this mission that marks the second Book.

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Pikudei 5779

Pekudei

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DON’T JUST GO TO SLEEP

We finally reach the grand finale of the building of the Mishkan at the conclusion of this week’ Parsha, Pikudei. When all the components of the Mishkan were put together and the vessels in their appropriate places, ‘The cloud covered the Mishkan and HaShem’s Honor filled the Mishkan’. The Presence of HaShem finally had Her residence in this world; in the midst of HaShem’s chosen people. With this picture, the Book of our exodus concludes. We have arrived at our destiny. We are the carriers of HaShem’s Presence throughout world geography and throughout world history. We are now ready to be launched.

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Vayakheil 5779

Vayakheil

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USE YOUR OWN MATERIALS

Before beginning the construction of the Mishkan, Moshe reminds his people of the importance of Shabbos. Throughout the building of the Mishkan we find Shabbos being laced around and around. What is the connection of the Mishkan to Shabbos?

Shabbos is the cornerstone of our trust in HaShem as the Creator of the world, as the Guide of our lives, and as the Director of history. This is accomplished by both parts of Shabbos’ observance; Zachor, to sanctify the Shabbos with Kiddush and other acts of sanctification and Shamor, the abstinence from any creative activity. How does our refraining from work proclaim our recognition of HaShem’s Sovereignty?

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Ki Sisa 5783

Ki Sisa

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MISHKAN; DO NOT TRY IT ON YOUR OWN!

The Beis Halevi asks the question which every thinking Jew asks when learning Parshas Ki Sisa; how did the people who left Egypt, who experienced the ten plagues, who experienced the splitting of the Red Sea, who experienced HaShem Himself talking to them from the Heavens, who were explicitly told by HaShem at Mount Sinai not to create graven images, create and serve a Golden idol!?

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Ki Sisa 5779

Ki Sisa

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THEIR PURE INSIDES

The Torah requires every Jew, including every 13 year old boy and 12 year old girl, to judge every other Jew favorably. This means that when we see someone doing something questionable we must give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they did nothing wrong or at least they were not aware of what they did. For a bar mitzvah child or, for that matter, anybody who is not trained in mussar and other forms of Torah greatness, it seems almost impossible. There must be an approach or a perspective that can offer us a grasp on this mitzvah.

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Terumah 5783

Terumah

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HOME BASE

In this week’s Parsha HaShem instructs Moshe “They shall build for Me a Mishkan and I will dwell within them”. Our Sages point out how these words indicate that although we are to build a Mishkan for the Shechina (His Presence) will rest within the people themselves.

The implication appears that the Shechinah’s primary residence will not be the Mishkan but rather the people and their homes. The construction of the Mishkan was only a prerequisite to having the Shechina to dwell among them. However, it is clear that the Mishkan contains the Kedusha because it carries HaShem’s Presence. From the laws of tumah it is evident that one who is tamei may not enter the environs of the Mishkan but is permitted to enter the Jewish homes. So was the Shechina dwelling in the Mishkan or in the midst of the people?

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Terumah 5779

Terumah

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VICARIOUS PLEASURE?

In this week’s Parsha, Trumah, HaShem instructs us to build for Him a Mishkan. The Midrash gives an analogy to explain why the Mishkan follows immediately after the giving of the Torah. There was a great king who had an only daughter. When the time came for her to marry and begin her life the king found a deserving groom. He told his son in-law after the marriage “I love my daughter so strongly that it is difficult for me to let her leave. Please, wherever you go, build for me a small hut in which I can live and remain close to her.” The Mishkan is that small hut for HaShem, our father in-law, who identifies the Torah as His daughter. How do we understand this Midrash. It presents HaShem as an overbearing father in-law!

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Terumah 5777

Terumah

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TAKING ACTION WITH A THOUGHT

In this week’s Parsha, Trumah, HaShem instructs His people to build for Him a Mishkan, a Temple that will travel with them on their trek through the desert. The initial command from Hashem to us is “Take for Me a trumah (a designated gift) from every man whose heart wants to contribute, shall you take my trumah… and you shall make for Me a Mishkan and I will rest in them.”

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