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![]() Shabbat Parashat Pekudei 5782Parashat Hashavua: Mishkan – The Great Travel Guide?Rav Daniel MannThe second half of Sefer Shemot, which we conclude this week, is focused on the Mishkan – the place where Hashem’s Presence dwelled and where we were able to serve Him in the most powerful way. The last section of our parasha/sefer deals with actually putting the elements of the Mishkan in place and includes the momentous pasuk, “Moshe completed all of the work” (Shemot 40:33). The next pasuk is perhaps even more special: “The cloud covered the Ohel Moed, and the Glory of Hashem filled the Mishkan,” fulfilling its great goal of “v’shachanti b’tocham” (ibid. 25:8). The next pasuk says that the intensity of sanctity was such that even Moshe could not enter. However, the sefer ends with the final three p’sukim that discuss another element of the cloud and the Mishkan – that the cloud stayed on top of the Mishkan until it was time for Bnei Yisrael to move, so that the removal of the cloud signaled the start of the next sojourn. At first glance, this looks anticlimactic and inappropriate for our sefer. The movement of the cloud as a sign to travel is discussed at length, where it “should be” – in Sefer Bamidbar in discussing all of the characteristics of the encampment and the travels (specifically, Bamidbar 9:15-23). In what way does this seemingly technical usage of the divine cloud teach us something fundamental about the Mishkan, which would make it appropriate to conclude the discussion? The Seforno’s following observation gives us an opening to a solution. We do not find that there was a special cloud over the Mishkan during its many years in Eretz Yisrael, most prominently in Shiloh, nor over the Beit Hamikdash. The Kli Yakar makes another observation. Moshe was able to enter divine clouds (see Shemot 24:18). The reason he could not enter the Mishkan due to the Divine Presence was that the Divine Presence was separated from the cloud – the cloud was on top of the Mishkan; the Divine Presence was inside the Mishkan. Thus, in its “uncovered” form, Moshe could not be together with the Divine Presence. But why was there separation, and why only in the Mishkan in the desert? ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() We daven for a complete and speedy refuah for: Nir Rephael ben Rachel Bracha Rivka Reena bat Gruna Natna Arye Yitzchak ben Geula Miriam Neta bat Malka Meira bat Esther Together with all cholei Yisrael Hemdat Yamim is dedicated to the memory of: for our homeland Rav Shlomo Merzel z”l
Mr. Shmuel & Esther Shemesh z"l Sivan 17 / Av 20 Mr. Moshe Wasserzug z"l Tishrei 20 ,5781 R' Eliyahu Carmel z"l Rav Carmel's father Iyar 8 ,5776 Mrs. Sara Wengrowsky bat R’ Moshe Zev a”h. Tamuz 10 ,5774 Rav Asher & Susan Wasserteil z"l R' Meir ben Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld z"l & Mrs. Sara Brachfeld z"l Tevet 16 ,5780 R 'Yaakov ben Abraham & Aisha and Chana bat Yaish & Simcha Sebbag, z"l Rav Yisrael Rozen z"l Rav Benzion Grossman z"l R' Abraham Klein z"l Iyar 18 ,5779 & Mrs. Gita Klein z"l Av 4 Rav Moshe Zvi (Milton) Polin z"l R' Yitzchak Zev Tarshansky z"l Adar 28, 5781 Nina Moinester z"l Nechama Osna bat Yitzhak Aharon & Doba Av 30, 5781 Mr. Gershon (George) ben Chayim HaCohen Kaplan z"l Adar II 6 Hemdat Yamim |