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Shabbat Parashat Teruma 5773Parashat Hashavua: Mishkan or MikdashHarav Yosef CarmelIn this week’s parasha we read of the command to build that which people generally call the Mishkan (the Tabernacle). However, if we take a good look at the p’sukim, the Torah commands to erect a Mikdash (Shemot 25:8) – a We should try to understand the difference between these two terms; mikdash and mishkan. The root of the former is “kadosh” – holy. The root of mishkan is shachen (dwell). As we have discussed in the past, holiness implies the presence of fear, distancing, and the attribute of judgment. It is related to the idea that Hashem is High above all high, to the extent that it is not even possible to understand His greatness. In contrast, the matter of the dwelling of the Divine Presence implies closeness and love, along the lines of one of the most important ideas which the masters of Kabbala discussed: “There is no place that is bereft of His Presence.” It is wrong to relate to only one of the aforementioned approaches to Hashem. If we think just in terms of fear of Hashem, we are liable to develop a cold philosophical approach that leaves no emotion in the relationship. The Baal Shem Tov was very sensitive to this concern, and he trained the followers of Chassidut to put the stress on Hashem’s ongoing Presence. They put more emphasis on “I will dwell among them” than on “They will make for Me a Sanctuary.” The Vilna Gaon was concerned that such an approach would cause an over-familiarity that would allow for searching for closeness to Hashem even in unseemly settings. He explained the Glory of Hashem as less related to a Divine Dwelling and more of an expression of Divine Providence. The Gaon’s disciple, Rav Chayim of Volozhin did draw closer to the Chassidic approach (see Torah Shleima, vol. VIII, pp. 248-251). Let us return to take a look at what changed when Shlomo erected the With the building of the Mikdash, Shlomo sent a double message. The Top of page
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Refuah Sheleimah for Rabanit Itah bat Chana Ehrenreich amongst the sick of Klal Yisrael This edition of is dedicated Yechezkel Shraga Brachfeld o.b.m Hemdat Yamim is endowed by Les & Ethel Sutker of Louis and Lillian Klein, z”l Hemdat Yamim is dedicated In memory of Yehudah ben Naftali Hertz Cohen (Kamofsky) o.b.m. Hemdat Yamim is dedicated to the memory of Gershon (George) ben Chayim HaCohen Kaplan o.b.m. |