Rabbi Ephraim's Tour- Terumah 2011

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

February 4^th 2011 -Volume I, Issue 18–30^th of Shvat 5771

Rabbi Ephraim’s Tour

There is a rule about love. The more that you love something, the more you should want to know and understand the object of your affection. One who loves wants to understand the little nuances; the things that make it tick. Things that to other people may seem innocuous, dull or even annoying, but the lover is enthralled and can’t wait to dig even deeper into the heart of their beloved.

I have a love that grows every day. Actually I have quite a few. My wife, my family my shul and of course chulent J. But most recently the object of my affection of which I have been putting most of my effort into understanding is my love of Eretz Yisrael; my new “old” homeland. To further my love for the land and perhaps to be most capable of sharing it with as many people as possible (and hopefully to make a living off of soon as well), I have been privileged to join a Tour guiding program at Machon Lander/ Touro University in Jerusalem.  The course is an amazing one. Subjects that never really interested me such as geology, archeology, and even botany and zoology all become fascinating as we walk among the places where all of these studies come alive.

The best part of course, is the history of our country and people. There are not too many places that you can go to here that do not have a story, a battle and perhaps even most enchanting a lesson to be learned. Daily drives that I take as I pass by what seems like innocuous rock formations and beautiful valleys now have begun new meaning as I delve deeper and deeper into the story that is our country. One of the most wonderful things about the course is the variety of tour guide “trainers” that we get to spend time with. Each a professional in their own area of expertise with a true love of the places and subjects that they share with us.

This evening though I was privileged to take a different type of tour. It was on my 2 hour bus ride home from a full day trip; a time whose quiet I cherish (before I get home to our busy Erev Shabbos home), to pull out my Chumash, prepare the weekly portion and review my day. This weeks Torah portion, Parshat Terumah, is certainly one that is on the slow side, following all the exciting Torah portions we have had until now. The Exodus is over, the laws have been given and the portion begins and tells us of the commandment to build a Tabernacle for the Divine presence to reside amongst the Jewish people. The Torah tells us the dimensions of the Ark, The Menorah, the Table the curtains and on and on and on. I will be honest. Architecture ….I don’t love. A table is a table, a cubit is a cubit. Dimensions don’t speak to me and neither to all the little bells and whistles on each holy vessel. But that was until I found my tour guide. Deciding to dig a little deeper into a text that I guiltily knew I should be loving a little bit more, I came across the commentary of the Klei Yakar- Rabbi Ephraim Lunshitz The 16^th century Rabbi of Prague. (I liked his first name J). And does he give a tour. Wow! The Mishkan-Tabernacle came alive. I don’t think it will ever bore me again.

Here are a few snippets of his tour with my paraphrasing. As you read it you can almost hearing him guiding you.

As we enter the Parsha the Torah tells us 15 different materials that were used to build the Mishkan with. These 15 each have tremendous spiritual significance. King David tells us Ki B’ Yah Hashem Tzur Olamim. With Ya” H (an acronym of God’s name) the universe was formed. Ya”H in Gematria Jewish numerology is 15 (yud =10 and Heh=5) It with 15 the universe was formed and the Tabernacle being a microcosm of the universe is also formed with 15 materials. This explains as well why in the temple King Solomon (the 15^th generation from Abraham!) built there were 15 steps into the Temple. In addition the gold, silver, copper and red skins correspond to the four exiles of the Jewish people Babylonia, Persia/Media, Greece and Edom/Rome as he quotes verses that show this connection.

Moving on to the first of the Temple vessels, we are introduced to the Ark. Interestingly enough we are told that it is coated in gold inside and out with wood as its core to show that the Torah is a tree of life and both those who support and study it have an equal portion in it. We are told of the Badei Shitim- the poles that carry the Ark. This, he notes one again through Gematria, represents the 16 (the numerical value of Badei- Beis=2 Daled=4 and Yud=10) individuals that are called to the Torah weekly for an Aliyah. When? Easy to remember, he suggests. They are coated in Zahav-gold spelled Zayin-7= Shabbos, Heh- 5 =Thursday, and Beis-2 Monday. Finally we are told of the covering of the Ark and the cherubs in the shape of angels with children’s faces. This is to teach us of the importance of covering the secrets of the Torah and the importance of having teachers who transmit the Torah who are similar to angels and clean of sin as a child. The cherubs face one another in loving embrace so that we learn that the Torah can only be studied when we are at peace with our fellow man. Perhaps most fascinating, is that unlike other dimensions the Ark’s are all not complete numbers 2 ½ x 1½ x 1½. This is so that one who studies should know that he has never learned it all and still needs to study more.

Moving along to the next vessel we reach the Table. The table is of course symbolic of the ones livelihood and the Table he eats on. Its dimensions are partially whole numbers and partially fractions 2x1x 1½ to teach you that one should feel that on one hand he has all the blessings that he needs and is satisfied with his portion (the width and length), however on the other hand the height is a broken number and he should never be haughty about it. The table, if you notice, has rings upon it. This there to remind us that ones success is like a circle that and cycle that goes around. There a times that are good and times that are bad. One should use our good times to support the needy and merit an eternal world that has no end (like a circular ring). In fact, the functions of these rings are to be “homes for the L’Badim-poles” the word L’Badim switching around the letters spells B’Dalim- for the poor. The Table also as you notice on our tour has a rim around it called a Misgeret. This is to symbolize that one should close and fence in ones desires and not let them run rampant.

The last I will share with you is as we exit into the Courtyard we see the Copper Sacrificial Altar. Its dimensions are all complete numbers 5x5x3. This is to show that through ones remorse and the atonement of the Altar one can become fully complete. The Altar has copper netting around it to symbolize the net of sin that ones evil inclination has wrapped around him that has brought him to this state. We also find miracles that were present with the Altar. The fire never scorched it, the water never damaged it and the wind never blew it’s constant pillar of smoke (although it was outside in the open air) and it was formed out of stone and earth upon which no blade ever cut. This is to teach us through the offerings upon the Altar man will be protected from all four elements- fire water, wind and earth. In addition it will protect a man from all four capitol punishments; stoning, fire, sword and strangulation (water). All three of these vessels have a crown upon them which symbolize the three crowns of our existence the crown of Torah the crown of Kingship and the Crown of the priesthood.

He continues on for each of the vessels, and next week as well in the lengthy description of the clothing of the priesthood (I was never into style or clothing much either… but who knows with the right guide?) but I don’t want to spoil your own personal tour with the Klei Yakar. The Torah is perhaps the greatest place to start your tour of life. We recite each day that its words should be one that we carry when walk on our paths. The more one studies the more one can fall in love. May the sweetness of Rabbi Ephraim’s tour give you inspiration as you take a new look at the beautiful world of the Mishkan.

Have a joy filled Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Adar Aleph Tov ,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FOR ALL THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN EGYPT FUNNY INTERVEIW OF THE WEEK

http://www.aish.com/j/mm/SNLs_Mubarak_Interview.html   

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

TEL BEIT SHEMESH- MOST OF YOU MIGHT NOW THE VERY POPULAR AMERICAN SETTLEMENT AND CITY OF BEIT SHEMESH. BUT DI YOU KNOW THAT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY THERE IS A ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG THAT DATES BACK TO 700 BCE AT THE TIME OF THE CONQUEST OF SANCHEIREV OF ASSYRIA. THERE IS AN REMARKABLY HUGE UNDERGROUND WATER CISTERN AND WELL WITH PLASTERED WALLS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN ABALE TO DATE TO THAT AREA AS WELL AS HOMES FROM THAT TIME PERIOD. WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE FASCINATING IS THAT IT IS IN THIS SAME SPOT THAT THE ARK OF HASHEM WAS RETURNED BY THE PHILLISTINES (THEY PUT IT ON A WAGON PULLED BY COWS AND SENT IT BY ITSELF) UNFORTUNATLY THE PEOPLE OF BEIT SHEMESH DID NOT TREAT IT WITH THE PROPER RESPECT AND OVER 50,000 WERE PUNISHED IN A GREAT PLAGUE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY PASSED THE ARK ON TO ANOTHER PLACE.