This week’s parashah gives us instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, or Mishkan.  What is the Mishkan?  It is a place for the dwelling of and worshiping of Adonai.  The Torah gives so many intricate details about this:  from the materials, how to acquire the materials, what to use where, and the construction or bringing together of them all to form the whole.

        Certainly the instructions were to be taken literally; however, just like the Torah in its entirety, there are many levels of learning to be gleaned.  In the past, when I have read this and all portions pertaining to the building of the Mishkan, my eyes glazed over as I tried to pay attention to the details, but I am a broad-strokes, whole-picture type of thinker, and paying attention to details is extremely difficult for me.  If you know me, you are laughing right now because you know how true this is!  Because this type of detailed instruction is so difficult for me to pay attention to, before today I don’t think I had understood anything other than the literal level of this and like portions.

        This time, I started to draw what I pictured, until the layers of the curtains, their formations separately and together, how many rings and hooks there were (and don’t get me started on the detailed information on the support planks)...I got overwhelmed yet again.  As I contemplated for a little while, I realized there are a vast number of ways to understand the spirituality of this passage when each detail is seen as a metaphor. 

        I like to point out the relevance of each passage to our world today.  In view of the man-made and nature-made violence in the world today, this parashah comes to remind us to think about the oneness of Adonai, how everything is connected, about balance, creation, and our utilizing our differences to achieve peace.

        I am seeing so many things, that in order to upload this commentary in time for Shabbat, I will draw you some broad strokes so you can contemplate too.

        Creation:  the One (Adonai) created the world and all within it in seven days - hence the menorah with seven branches, which are all connected.  The one branch - representing G-d, which is also the center of the menorah, as well as the one which all others come out of, as well as the one which lights the others, is the support, and the one which holds the rest together. 

        Spirituality:   the layers upon layers of curtains represent the layers of understanding of G-d, the Torah - which also lies in the center - the work it takes to get to connect with Adonai is an effort.  Also, since we start with the tablets and place them in the ark, and we build out from there, we are creating our own difficulties with connecting with Adonai.

        Creation through the elements:  people once thought the elements were fire, air, earth, and water.  The fire is from the lit menorah, the air is from the air all around and contained within the curtains, and the lace physically represents air.  The stakes to secure the curtains go into the ground, or earth, and finally the dolphins live in the water, which is represented by the dolphin skins.

        People of science have categorized the world as animal, vegetable, or mineral.  We have animal skins, animal hairs, oil and herbs, the minerals from the earth which are used (gold, silver, copper), and the precious stones.

        How to reach or connect with Adonai:  we need to work together with our different skills and talents, which were utilized in the creation of the Mishkan.  We are told it should be built with donations which come from the heart with joy, not from taxing, for example, or any type of force or guilt.  The colors of the threads used to weave the curtains are different, yet woven together, utilized together, and needed to work together.  Also coming together is the great diversity of items required, representing the need for us to see the need for the diversity of peoples to be united in purpose, that purpose being for the service of G-d.

        All was created from G-d, to come together and work in unison for Adonai:  Adonai is represented by the tablets, the Ark of the Covenant, the center from which all is built around.  We are told the curtains come together as one several times.  The curtains are to be woven separately, and yet we are told after that to connect them.

        The hidden:  everything is built to travel, meaning while all is still; in other words, the Mishkan is erected, the Ark of the Covenant is to be seen only by the high priest when he is spiritually cleansed and pure.  The voice of G-d will emanate from the space between the cherubim outwards for Moses to hear.  When traveling, however, the Ark of the Covenant is in plain view of all who are there.  This represents the awesomeness of Adonai, the respect we should show for Adonai, and the temporary states we will be in when we cannot see or hear G-d.  However, there will also be times when we can connect with Adonai - represented by the ability to see the ark when traveling. 

        Adonai:  I have already given you some of the metaphors for understanding Adonai, but remember, the Ark of the Covenant is quite beautiful, has a crown topping it, and even further, has contained within it knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.  If it was meant to be kept hidden, why make it so beautiful?  The treasure of Adonai can be found when one looks within, and sometimes is seen by all people simultaneously when we work together to serve Adonai.  That there is no one particular spot where Adonai resides is also represented by the traveling, and the fact the rods used to carry the ark are to remain attached all times.

        The Sefirot:  these can be understood as emanations of Adonai, or akin to chakras (or aspects of Adonai’s personality, for my purpose here), as there is so much to be learned about the sephirot, thus I am limiting my explanation.  The Sephirot are also represented by colors.  I looked up the colors utilized for the curtains, and the only ones mentioned - yes, gold is a noun and an adjective - so if you also wonder about the color gold, the Sefirah named Keter, or crown, is the color bright yellow or gold, and it is where all others come from, and it feeds all of the others.  Looking at the colors turquoise, scarlet red, and purple, I have found they represent the Sefirot of Hesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzah, and Hod.  Hesed is mercy or kindness, and the blue of it represents faith, will, power, and perfection.  Gevurah is judgment, and it too is blue, but takes on the extra implication of judgment to create perfection when together with Hesed.  Tiferet is beauty and compassion; when represented in human form, it is located relative to the heart, thus a shade of red, standing for compassion, love, kindness, and charity.  Netzah is victory, it is represented by purple - sometimes purple and gold - standing for service, brotherhood, and peace.  Finally, Hod, meaning splendor or majesty (which is also purple and sometimes gold), representing also service, ministration (ministering to others), peace, and brotherhood.  There is another which is represented by violet - a shade of purple - and it means foundation, as it is known to be equated with the seat of the soul, and the violet represents mercy, justice, freedom, and transmutation! 

        When and if we humans learn to embrace our differences, and learn to work together for G-d, we can only accomplish this “transmutation” of thinking by the bringing together of the aspects of judgment, mercy - only through these will we find peace, which means we will then have freedom!

        While I see many more metaphors within our parashah, I would like you to think about how you can help restore balance to the world, so we can all live in peace, with freedom to worship G-d by serving     G-d in what we do, how we treat each other, and in our own personal way, not to be imposed upon others, for Adonai created everything, and is to be found everywhere.

Shabbat Shalom!

I’d love to know what you think, but more importantly, Adonai is waiting to be revealed by our cooperation, love, kindness, caring, and mercy in equal measure with judgment.  May we all find peace.

G-d’s Creations