{"id":42209,"date":"2018-07-09T18:50:46","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-75\/"},"modified":"2023-05-30T12:40:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T09:40:49","slug":"wall-75","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-75\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Exodus-25"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"75","date":"20251211","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"42501","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Exodus 25 - Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Exodus 25 - Judy Hammond","slug":"exodus-25-judy-hammond","old_id":"42501","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Exodus 25","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"read by Judy Hammond","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/exodus-chapter-25-read-by-judy-hammond","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"104949","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"2","name":"Jewish Agility ","post_title":"Jewish Agility","slug":"jewish-agility","old_id":"104949","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"In ensuring the Ark was ready to move at a moment\u2019s notice, was God giving us a clue to what would become our history as \u201cwandering Jews\u201d?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

While still camped at Sinai, God gives detailed instructions for building the Tabernacle, including design specs for the Holy Ark. In fact, it\u2019s not only the design of the Ark that is prescribed, God also provides details on the Ark\u2019s exact placement in the Tabernacle, and its contents. Though the contents were referred to in the text as \u201cthe <\/span>edut<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> testimony\u201d (25:16, 21), it is generally agreed to be the tablets Moses brought down from Mount Sinai. Moses recruited a master craftsman by the name of Bezalel to build the Tabernacle, but the commandment given to Moses was to \u201cSpeak to the children of Israel\u2026.They shall make an ark of acacia wood (25:2-10).\u201d The entire Jewish nation was responsible for ensuring the construction was completed according to God\u2019s plan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Ark, the table of show bread and the menorah were all to be equipped with rings through which poles were inserted. But only with respect to the Ark were we commanded to insert those poles, and then never remove them. In ensuring the Ark was portable and ready to move at a moment\u2019s notice, was God giving us a clue to what would become our history as \u201cwandering Jews\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explained that the permanent poles are a metaphor for the Torah itself. Just as the Torah has no temporal limitations, unconnected to any single place or time, so too the Ark itself, which houses the Torah, could not be committed to any specific location. Yes, we will be a wandering nation, but the Torah will wander with us.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We Jews have found ourselves in all kinds of environments, both hostile as well as peaceful. That seems to be our ever-changing condition. Our one constant has been our Torah. Times will change, societal norms will change, but the Torah that was placed in the Ark with poles for transport, will continue to guide us. We will face new challenges and every generation needs a framework for understanding matters our forefathers couldn\u2019t have dreamed of. As long as we bring the Torah along with us to inform our decisions and our responses to the ever-changing world; as long as we remember that the Torah is as applicable now and in the future as it was when we received it, and call on it to provide our framework for living, then we\u2019ll be able to meet those challenges.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Jewish Agility","tile_main_caption":"In ensuring the Ark was ready to move at a moment\u2019s notice, was God giving us a clue to what would become our history as \u201cwandering Jews\u201d?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"432","name":"Exile","old_id":"832"},{"term_id":"668","name":"Tabernacle","old_id":"1068"}]},{"order":3,"id":"104951","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Cruvim\/Cherubim ","post_title":"Cruvim\/Cherubim","slug":"cruvim-cherubim","old_id":"104951","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Anything but cherubic, we can only guess at what they might have looked like\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The holiest object in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was the Ark. The cover of the ark had two \u201ccruvim\u201d (cherubim) on top. What exactly was a cruv? The cruvim first appear in Genesis chapter 3, after Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden of Eden:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

[God] drove <\/span>adam<\/em> <\/span>out; and stationed east of the garden of Eden the cherubim and the fiery ever-turning sword, to guard the way to the tree of life (3:24).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Torah does not give any explanation as to what the cruvim are in Genesis except that they act as some sort of guard or gatekeeper. The midrash Exodus Rabba explains that the cruvim were angels of destruction. Chizkuni adds that the very sight of the cruvim would frighten anyone who glanced at them. The rest of the mentions of cruvim in the Torah refer mostly to the cruvim that were on the Ark and on the curtains of the Mishkan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Solomon builds the Temple, he places two giant cruvim towering over the Ark. He also adds cruvim to his throne. Later the cruvim appear in Ezekiel\u2019s vision of the throne of God in Ezekiel chapter 10. Ezekiel provides some physical description, beyond the wings delineated earlier, that the cruvim \u201cappeared to have the form of a man\u2019s hands under their wings\u201d (Ez. 10:8). Ezekiel\u2019s vision distinguishes between the face of a cruv and a human face (10:14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What the actual cruvim look like is unclear from the text. Rashi, working off of the Aramaic word for cruv, explains that the cruvim had the face of a young child. Interpreting from the visions of Ezekiel, Ibn Ezra explains that the cruvim seemed to have different faces. Rashbam believes that the cruvin had faces of birds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps because the cruvim walked the thin line between an idol and the holiest object in the mishkan\/Temple, the Torah was intentionally vague on their appearance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: photo by Ben Schumin:\u00a0Replica of the Ark of the Covenant in the Royal Arch Room of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial \/\u00a0wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51687,"alt":"","title":"dt26-Ark_replica_1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","width":490,"height":473,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","medium_large-width":490,"medium_large-height":473,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","large-width":490,"large-height":473,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","1536x1536-width":490,"1536x1536-height":473,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","2048x2048-width":490,"2048x2048-height":473,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","post_full_size-width":490,"post_full_size-height":473,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-435x420.jpg","home_baner-width":435,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Cruvim\/Cherubim","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Anything but cherubic, we can only guess at what they might have looked like","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51687,"alt":"","title":"dt26-Ark_replica_1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","width":490,"height":473,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","medium_large-width":490,"medium_large-height":473,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","large-width":490,"large-height":473,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","1536x1536-width":490,"1536x1536-height":473,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","2048x2048-width":490,"2048x2048-height":473,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","post_full_size-width":490,"post_full_size-height":473,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-435x420.jpg","home_baner-width":435,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"669","name":"Cherub","old_id":"1069"},{"term_id":"670","name":"Ark","old_id":"1070"}]},{"order":4,"id":"104953","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Moses, The Spatially Challenged ","post_title":"Moses, The Spatially Challenged","slug":"moses-the-spatially-challenged","old_id":"104953","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Even the best of us need help from others to get by\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Moses might have been tapped by God to be the redeemer of the Jewish people from their Egyptian slavery because of his innate leadership abilities, but he clearly was spatially challenged. God felt that in order to instruct Moses regarding how to fabricate the Tabernacle, explaining verbally the makeup of the various artifacts was going to prove insufficient; Moses would have to be shown what God envisioned:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Exactly as I show you\u2014the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings\u2014so shall you make it\u2026Note well, and follow the patterns for them that are being shown you on the mountain (Exodus 25:9, 40).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud (Menachot 29a) fleshes out how God illustrated to Moses the nature of the construction of the Tabernacle that he was to convey to the Jewish people:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is taught: Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Yehuda, says: An Ark of fire (Ex. 25:10-22) and a Table of fire (ibid. 23-30) and a Candelabrum of fire (ibid. 31-8) descended from the Heavens, and Moses saw their format and fashioned the vessels for the Tabernacle in their likeness. As it is stated after the command to fashion these items: \u201cNote well, and follow the patterns for them that are being shown you on the mountain.\u201d...<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud goes on to suggest that the final verse in Exodus 25, is specifically said with respect to the Menorah (candelabrum), which Moses still couldn\u2019t comprehend how to make after viewing a fiery representation of the artifact sent by God, and the prophet had to be given an even more detailed tutorial by a Divine representative:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba says that Rabbi Yoc\u1e25anan says: The angel Gabriel was girded with a type of belt (<\/em><\/span>in the manner of artisans who tie up their clothes to prevent these clothes from hindering them in their work).<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/em>And he showed the way to fashion the Candelabrum to Moses, as it is written: (Bemidbar 8:4) \u201cAnd this is the work of the Candelabrum\u2026\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

(Whenever the Tanach utilizes the word \u201cthis\/these,\u201d <\/span>zeh, eileh<\/span><\/em>, it is interpreted homiletically that a \u201cvisual aid\u201d was utilized in order to make the presentation more understandable. See also Exodus 12:2; Leviticus 11:29).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is interesting that the individual whom the Tanach refers to as the most humble human being who ever lived (Num. 12:3: \u201cNow Moses himself<\/span> was very humble, more so than any other human being on earth\u201d), should experience this glaring shortcoming in his intellectual makeup. We can explain that Moses\u2019 sense of not being able to speak well in public only contributed to his overall humility (see Exodus 3-4). However, his cluelessness when it came to the plastic arts, was meant to demonstrate that no human being can ever be so accomplished, that he shouldn\u2019t acknowledge the need to rely on anyone else.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97540,"alt":"","title":"est9-question celebration","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Moses, The Spatially Challenged","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Even the best of us need help from others to get by","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97540,"alt":"","title":"est9-question celebration","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est9-question-celebration-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"643","name":"Humility","old_id":"1043"},{"term_id":"668","name":"Tabernacle","old_id":"1068"}]},{"order":5,"id":"48836","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Inside and Out ","post_title":"Inside And Out","slug":"inside-and-out","old_id":"48836","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36663,"post_title":"Beth Kissileff","slug":"beth-kissileff","old_id":"36663","first_name":"Beth ","last_name":"Kissileff ","description":"Beth Kissileff is the editor of the anthology Reading Genesis (2016 - https:\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/us\/reading-genesis-9780567381521), and the forthcoming Reading Exodus, and the author of the novel Questioning Return - https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Questioning-Return-Novel-Beth-Kissileff\/dp\/1942134231. \r\nHer journalism appears in many publications; she has taught most recently at the University of Pittsburgh. Visit her online at www.bethkissileff.com. ","short_description":"Beth Kissileff is the editor of the anthology Reading Genesis (Bloomsbury\/ T and T Clark, 2016) , a journalist and teacher.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36664,"alt":"","title":"BethKissileff","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224.jpg","width":3478,"height":3200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-300x276.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":276,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-768x707.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":707,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-1024x942.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":942,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1413,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1884,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-1200x1104.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1104,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/BethKissileff-e1533157952224-456x420.jpg","home_baner-width":456,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1030","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Deriving ethical instruction from rules of construction","post_main_content_content":"

If the Torah is about moral and ethical instruction, why is such a sizable bit of Exodus concerned with principles and rules of construction, even to the minutiae of interior decoration?\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Ethical ideals need to carry over into the physical world.\u00a0We learn this from principles of how the mishkan,<\/em> the dwelling place for God, is constructed, in the blueprints for its design we are given starting in chapter 25 of Exodus, in this week\u2019s portion of Terumah, Exodus 25:1-27:19. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u00a0\u201cAnd you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside you must overlay it, and make upon it a golden circlet\u201d (Exodus 25:11).\u00a0 Why do we need to be told such specifics of building here, particularly in terms of an overlay both inside and outside?\u00a0Shouldn\u2019t one be enough?\u00a0This is gold we are discussing here, the most expensive metal there is.<\/p>\r\n

The Talmud, in Yoma 72b, says of this verse that Rava taught \u201ca scholar whose inside is not like his outside is not a scholar.\u201d\u00a0We learn from the intricacies of the construction of a dwelling place for God, that integrity is primary.\u00a0We can\u2019t skimp on materials for either our inner or our outer lives: both carry weight.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

The values that emanate from our core must be equally as golden as the image we present on the outside.\u00a0At a time where judges and political figures speak obvious falsehoods and misrepresent so much about themselves, we need to believe that anyone who is a true Torah scholar will be imbued with as much gold in their inner core as in an external manifestation.\u00a0Our detailed description of the blueprints, down to materials, color combinations and fabrics, reminds us that the business of being holy is one that must be done with care, from the inner to the outer.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75397,"alt":"","title":"ez40-blueprint","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint.jpg","width":1920,"height":1052,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-300x164.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":164,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-768x421.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":421,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-1024x561.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":561,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":842,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1052,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-1200x658.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":658,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-767x420.jpg","home_baner-width":767,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Parashat Terumah 5779","tile_main_caption":"Inside And Out","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Deriving ethical instruction from rules of construction","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75397,"alt":"","title":"ez40-blueprint","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint.jpg","width":1920,"height":1052,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-300x164.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":164,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-768x421.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":421,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-1024x561.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":561,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":842,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1052,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-1200x658.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":658,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ez40-blueprint-767x420.jpg","home_baner-width":767,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1030"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"436","name":"Morality","old_id":"836"},{"term_id":"668","name":"Tabernacle","old_id":"1068"}]},{"order":6,"id":"42694","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"If They Build It, I Will Come ","post_title":"If They Build It, I Will Come","slug":"if-they-build-it-i-will-come","old_id":"42694","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42669,"post_title":"David Rotenberg","slug":"david-rotenberg","old_id":"42669","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Rotenberg ","description":"Rabbi David Rotenberg has been working in both formal and informal Jewish education throughout his home community of Ottawa, Canada, since his ordination in 2004. He is currently the Director of Education for NCSY\/Torah High Ottawa. One of his passions is combining his interests and skills, teaching Torah through the lens of comedy and pop culture. He occasionally posts these original insights at rabbirotes.wordpress.com.","short_description":"Rabbi David Rotenberg is the Director of Education for NCSY\/Torah High Ottawa. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42670,"alt":"","title":"david rotenberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342.jpg","width":887,"height":876,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342-300x296.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":296,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342-768x758.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":758,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342.jpg","1536x1536-width":887,"1536x1536-height":876,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342.jpg","2048x2048-width":887,"2048x2048-height":876,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/david-rotenberg-e1540319771342-425x420.jpg","home_baner-width":425,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The tabernacle as the people's field of dreams","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cIf you build it, he will come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is these now famous words that Ray Kinsella hears in his Iowa cornfield at the beginning of the 1989 film, \u201cField of Dreams,\u201d initiating his journey of faith, effort, and sacrifice, first building a magnificent baseball field on his farm, and later travelling both across America and across time. They are also evocative of what God says at the beginning of his instructions to construct the Mishkan, the tabernacle (Ex. 25:8): \u201cV\u2019asu li mikdash, v\u2019shachanti b\u2019tocham\u201d - \u201cthey should make Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them.\u201d In other words, if <\/span>they<\/i><\/b> build it, <\/span>I<\/i><\/b> will come.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to Rashi\u2019s interpretation, this command was given immediately after God forgives the Jewish people for the sin of the Golden Calf, suggesting that the reason for God commanding its instruction is for the people to atone for this grievous error. There are indeed several parallels between the two incidents, such as the nation freely donating valuables to the \u201cMishkan fund\u201d (much like was done for the Golden Calf).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Following the Exodus from Egypt, the Jewish People experienced unprecedented closeness with God, their \u201cFather in Heaven,\u201d which reached its pinnacle at the revelation at Sinai. But after the Golden Calf, this relationship seemed headed toward irreversible estrangement. However, once the Mishkan is completed and all of its vessels are in place, God\u2019s Presence fills the Mishkan, and a new opportunity for closeness emerges.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Similarly, Ray believes that his journey is as penance for a rift in the relationship with his father John, a former minor league catcher, which lasted from the time Ray was young until his father died. One of Ray\u2019s greatest regrets is that, so turned off by John pushing baseball on him, that at age 14, he began refusing to play catch with him, denying John one of the pleasures of the father-son relationship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At the end of the movie, Ray discovers what his entire journey was really about. Ray originally believed that the \u2018he\u2019 the voice was referring to was his father\u2019s favorite player, Shoeless Joe Jackson, who does indeed wander out of the cornfield, and later brings the spirits of other former ball players with him to enjoy Ray\u2019s field. However, in the final scene, as the catcher removes his mask, he is revealed to be a young version of John. After years of distance, Ray finally gets a chance to reconnect, and in a simple but beautiful moment of redemption, he invites John to play catch together. Ray's complex journey had the ultimate goal of bringing him back to that long-missed game of catch with his father.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

By the same token, the people\u2019s generosity and efforts regarding the Mishkan are fueled by that same desire to rebuild that bond with our own Father. The message for us to learn both from the Mishkan and from Ray\u2019s Field of Dreams is that even though our actions may lead God to sometimes hide His face or temporarily distance Himself from that relationship, through it all, just like any father, He always wants to be close to us.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104958,"alt":"","title":"-62854b8bb2faa--62854b8bb2facex25-baseball home 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Real Chanukah Bush! ","post_title":"A Real Hanukkah Bush!","slug":"a-real-chanukah-bush","old_id":"42542","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34235,"post_title":"Marc Gitler","slug":"marc-gitler","old_id":"34235","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Gitler","description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, a recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and earned an MPA from NYU . The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. He used to work for 929 North America.\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, founder of Fast for Feast, lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34236,"alt":"","title":"Marc Gitler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","width":407,"height":407,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","medium_large-width":407,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","large-width":407,"large-height":407,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","1536x1536-width":407,"1536x1536-height":407,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","2048x2048-width":407,"2048x2048-height":407,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","post_full_size-width":407,"post_full_size-height":407,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","home_baner-width":407,"home_baner-height":407}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Salvia palaestina - the Menorah plant - in Jewish art, worship and history","post_main_content_content":"

Some two thousand years ago, during the era of the Hasmoneans, the menorah, became a prominent symbol of the eternity Jewish people and its connection to the land of Israel. \u00a0The staying power of the symbol is evidenced by the menorah outside the Knesset, with its detailed bronze reliefs depicting important Jewish events and personalities ranging from the Biblical period through the founding of the state of Israel. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The menorah\u2019s description in the Torah is also detailed, but surprisingly in its botanical design. All six of the outer <\/span>branches<\/span> were designed with \u201cthree cups shaped like <\/span>almond-blossoms<\/span>, each with <\/span>knobs <\/span>and <\/span>petals<\/span>.\u201d The middle branch contained four almond-blossoms also with the knobs and petals.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Commentaries throughout the ages have attempted to draw descriptions of the Menorah, were the branches curved, straight or bent in the middle? Where exactly were the calyxes? The only clue, perhaps, the relief on the arch of Titus in Rome depicting the Romans carrying the menorah in the period following the destruction of the Second Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the early 20<\/span>th<\/span> century botanists Ephraim and Hannah Hareuveni emigrated from Russia to Israel. They believed that the plants in the Torah could be found growing in Israel, and they began collecting and classifying Biblical plants. In their searches they noticed a resemblance between the Torah\u2019s description of the Menorah (branches, calyxes, petals, and cups) and an oily plant that grows in Israel called the salvia palaestina.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Their son Nogah Hareuveni writes that when the salvia is pressed it looks just like the Menorah, with three branches emerging from the central branch, and the knobs growing directly from the stem and branches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Following the description of the menorah Moses is told \u201cnote well and follow the patterns that you see on the mountain.\u201d The Talmud in tractate Menachot writes that Moses didn\u2019t understand the design of the Menorah, so God showed him a picture of it in fire. If the menorah\u2019s design reflects a plant that is endemic to Israel, then Moses would have never seen one, and found its design incomprehensible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After reading of Reuveni\u2019s discovery I am also no longer perplexed by the Menorah\u2019s design, but I am searching for a pressed salvia palaestina to display as my \u201cHanukkah bush\u201d right next to my menorah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Cover photo by Prof Avinoam Denin:<\/span> http:\/\/flora.org.il\/en\/books\/plant-stories-2\/chapter-n\/useful_plants_n1<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":42543,"alt":"","title":"50511-268x400","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","width":268,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400-201x300.jpeg","medium-width":201,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","medium_large-width":268,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","large-width":268,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","1536x1536-width":268,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","2048x2048-width":268,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","post_full_size-width":268,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","home_baner-width":268,"home_baner-height":400}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Real Hanukkah Bush!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Salvia palaestina - the Menorah plant - in Jewish art, worship and history","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42543,"alt":"","title":"50511-268x400","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","width":268,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400-201x300.jpeg","medium-width":201,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","medium_large-width":268,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","large-width":268,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","1536x1536-width":268,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","2048x2048-width":268,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","post_full_size-width":268,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/50511-268x400.jpeg","home_baner-width":268,"home_baner-height":400}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Cover photo by Prof Avinoam Denin: http:\/\/flora.org.il\/en\/books\/plant-stories-2\/chapter-n\/useful_plants_n1\/","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"672","name":"Menorah","old_id":"1072"}]},{"order":8,"id":"42536","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Crowdsourcing Holiness ","post_title":"Crowdsourcing Holiness","slug":"crowdsourcing-holiness","old_id":"42536","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38047,"post_title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","slug":"shoshana-michael-zucker","old_id":"38047","first_name":"Shoshana Michael ","last_name":"Zucker ","description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor by profession, but would much rather be learning and teaching Torah. A graduate of Barnard College, she made aliyah in 1983 and now lives in Kfar Saba where she is an active member of the Masorti Congregation Hod veHadar. ","short_description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor and lives in Kfar Saba \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38048,"alt":"","title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","width":231,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-224x300.jpg","medium-width":224,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","medium_large-width":231,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","large-width":231,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","1536x1536-width":231,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","2048x2048-width":231,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","post_full_size-width":231,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","home_baner-width":231,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God does not reside in a building, but rather among the people who built it","post_main_content_content":"

The transition from the revelation of God\u2019s glory at the end of Exodus 24 to the nitty-gritty details of the Tabernacle\u2019s (<\/span>mishkan<\/span><\/i>) construction in beginning of Exodus 25 is jarring, but the latter is actually a direct continuation of the preceding chapter. Umberto Cassuto explains that the <\/span>mishkan<\/span><\/em> is necessary to maintain the connection between the people and God once they move away from Mount Sinai. It is not intended to enshrine the memory of Mount Sinai, to be a static monument to a one-time event. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rather it is a focal point where that connection can continue and even become bi-directional. Therefore, the Torah says, \u201cL<\/span>et them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell (<\/span>veshakhanti<\/span><\/em>) among them.\u201d God does not reside in the <\/span>mishkan<\/span><\/em>, but rather among people who built it. This is reinforced by <\/span>the transitions between singular and plural verb forms in the Hebrew text: each individual contributes as he or she desires and the collective, the community gathers the contributions, so that its agents can create the <\/span>mishkan<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At Sinai, the entire people stood at the foot of the mountain and God spoke to them in the singular, addressing each one individually. Now they must work together. Neither Moses nor master-craftsman Bezalel are capable of building the <\/span>mishkan<\/span><\/em> without the people\u2019s contributions. The individual and the community need each other.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What was true in the past remains true today. Building truly sacred spaces still requires the cooperative efforts of many people, who each contribute what they are able and commission trustworthy, skilled agents to direct the implementation of the shared dream. The leaders cannot create it alone. The involvement of each willing heart is also necessary. Otherwise, the project risks becoming static monument rather than point of contact between people and Beyond. To dwell in this world, God requires not gold, silver & brass; wood, fabric & skins, but rather our freely given efforts to join together in community.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":43233,"alt":"","title":"Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","width":672,"height":1049,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-192x300.jpg","medium-width":192,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-656x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":656,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-656x1024.jpg","large-width":656,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","1536x1536-width":672,"1536x1536-height":1049,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","2048x2048-width":672,"2048x2048-height":1049,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","post_full_size-width":672,"post_full_size-height":1049,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-269x420.jpg","home_baner-width":269,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Crowdsourcing Holiness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God does not reside in a building, but rather among the people who built it","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":43233,"alt":"","title":"Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","width":672,"height":1049,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-192x300.jpg","medium-width":192,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-656x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":656,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-656x1024.jpg","large-width":656,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","1536x1536-width":672,"1536x1536-height":1049,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","2048x2048-width":672,"2048x2048-height":1049,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels.jpg","post_full_size-width":672,"post_full_size-height":1049,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Ex31-The_Erection_of_the_Tabernacle_and_the_Sacred_Vessels-269x420.jpg","home_baner-width":269,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"426","name":"Community","old_id":"826"},{"term_id":"668","name":"Tabernacle","old_id":"1068"},{"term_id":"673","name":"Place","old_id":"1073"}]},{"order":9,"id":"42686","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Ark Of The Testimony Is - \u00a0An Ark ","post_title":"The Ark Of The Testimony Is - \u00a0An Ark","slug":"the-ark-of-the-testimony-is-an-ark","old_id":"42686","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":41792,"post_title":"Misha Clebaner","slug":"misha-clebaner","old_id":"41792","first_name":"Misha ","last_name":"Clebaner","description":"Misha Clebaner, is in his final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College in Boston. He is currently serving as the rabbinic figure of Temple B\u2019nai Israel in Revere, MA.","short_description":"Misha Clebaner, is in his final year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College in Boston. He is currently serving as the rabbinic figure of Temple B\u2019nai Israel in Revere, MA.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":41794,"alt":"","title":"misha clebaner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","width":230,"height":251,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","medium-width":230,"medium-height":251,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","medium_large-width":230,"medium_large-height":251,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","large-width":230,"large-height":251,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","1536x1536-width":230,"1536x1536-height":251,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","2048x2048-width":230,"2048x2048-height":251,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","post_full_size-width":230,"post_full_size-height":251,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/misha-clebaner.png","home_baner-width":230,"home_baner-height":251}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"...and carries a story that can animate us towards a better future","post_main_content_content":"

One of the most fascinating aspects of the 929 project is seeing how the daily chapter interacts with the regular Jewish calendar. Whether it is the weekly Torah portion, the daily prayers, or a special holiday reading - they all have connections to the stories that we read throughout this two and a half year cycle. Recently, I found one such connection particularly inspiring as it reminded me the majesty of stories.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In 2018, Coming off of <\/span>parashat<\/span><\/i> Noach<\/span><\/i> a few weeks ago during the regular weekly cycle, we now find ourselves discussing arks yet again in Exodus 25. Yes, there is a difference in the Hebrew between Noah\u2019s Ark, Hebrew <\/span>teivah<\/span><\/em> and the ark of the covenant in Exodus, <\/span>aron<\/span><\/em>. But essentially they are both chests that house objects within them. Objects that are moved by others; and also in poetic fashion have in themselves the ability to animate others as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The beauty of the interplay between the 929 project and our regular Jewish calendar is that it helps us see connections that we might not have otherwise noticed. In <\/span>parshat<\/span><\/i> Noach<\/span><\/i> the ark carries life-creating and life-sustaining goods: human and animal life that will soon re-populate and re-animate the world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Exodus 25:16 the ark carries the testimony. Rashi simplifies the matter for us when he defines \u2018testimony\u2019 as specifically referring to the Torah, the stone tablets, that the ark will soon be carrying. But it is also so much more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The ark will literally be carrying the tablets, yes, but as the word \u2018testimony\u2019 implies - what the ark will really be carrying is a story for a better future. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Just as Noah\u2019s ark carried the necessary tools to create a more vibrant world, so too does the ark of Exodus 25 carry such an animating tool - imaginative words.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To this very day humanity is sustained through these two forces: the <\/span>nefesh<\/span><\/em> (corporeal life made possible because of Noah) and the <\/span>neshamah<\/span><\/em> (spiritual life vivified by story and imagination). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Both are to be protected, guarded, and moved forward. Both are the treasure in the chest that is this world.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":42690,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1183673788","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788.jpg","width":4961,"height":3508,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-300x212.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-768x543.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":543,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-1024x724.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":724,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1086,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1448,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-1200x849.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":849,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-594x420.jpg","home_baner-width":594,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Ark Of The Testimony Is - \u00a0An Ark","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"...and carries a story that can animate us towards a better future","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42690,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1183673788","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788.jpg","width":4961,"height":3508,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-300x212.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-768x543.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":543,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-1024x724.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":724,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1086,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1448,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-1200x849.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":849,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1183673788-594x420.jpg","home_baner-width":594,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"shutterstock 1183673788","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"670","name":"Ark","old_id":"1070"}]},{"order":10,"id":"42540","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Tabernacle as an Island of Eden ","post_title":"The Tabernacle As An Island Of Eden","slug":"the-tabernacle-as-an-island-of-eden","old_id":"42540","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37918,"post_title":"Shai Held","slug":"shai-held","old_id":"37918","first_name":" Shai ","last_name":"Held","description":"Rabbi Shai Held, theologian, scholar, and educator, is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar, where he also directs the Center for Jewish Leadership and Ideas. A 2011 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education, Rabbi Held has been named multiple times to Newsweek\u2019s list of the 50 most influential rabbis in America. He holds a doctorate in religion from Harvard; Rabbi Held's first book, Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, was published by Indiana University Press in 2013; The Heart of Torah, a collection of essays on the Torah in two volumes, was published by JPS in 2017.","short_description":"Rabbi Shai Held is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar,","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37919,"alt":"","title":"shai held","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","width":150,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We dream of a world transformed, but we cannot transcend the human condition","post_main_content_content":"

Exodus 25 begins with God asking Moses to instruct [the people of Israel] to <\/span>\u201cmake a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them\u201d (Exodus 25:8). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The remainder of the chapter describes the construction of a sanctuary that is remarkably similar to the Garden of Eden. God places Adam in the Garden \u201cto till and to tend it\u201d (le-ovdah u-le-shomrah<\/em>). This pair of verbs (la\u2019avod <\/em>and lishmor<\/em>) is used together in only three other places in the Torah\u2014all of them to describe the tasks of the Levites in the mishkan<\/em> (Numbers 3:7-8, 8:26, 18:5-6). Gold and shoham, two of the materials most used in the building of the mishkan<\/em>, are also mentioned around Eden. The Ark of the Covenant is guarded by two cherubim (Exodus 25:18-20), as was the Garden (Genesis 3:24). One midrash teaches that Adam was created from the site where the Temple would one day stand (Genesis Rabbah 14:8). These and other midrashic images and linguistic similarities raise an obvious question: What do Adam in the Garden of Eden and the Temple have to do with one another?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

During their time in Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they needed provided for them. The world in which we live, so suffused with suffering and predation, is a far cry indeed from the wholeness portrayed in Eden. Not surprisingly, although the place called Eden disappeared long ago, the dream it represents and hope for its restoration have had an enduring place in Jewish religious consciousness. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The mishkan (tabernacle) is intended to serve, I would suggest, as an island of Eden in a decidedly non-Edenic world; an attempt to re-create Eden.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overly romanticized dreams of what could be often prevent us from appreciating\u2014or from being able to receive at all\u2014the blessings already before us. The Eden-like mishkan holds out the possibility that greater degrees of wholeness are possible even in the midst of a (for now) irreparably broken world. The biblical people of Israel could enter an actual physical space; students of Torah are invited to enter imaginatively, through reading. But for the mini-Edens we enter to serve life, we must eschew illusory images of wholeness which only sow more sorrow and discontent. The dream of Eden represents another reality, but it is\u2014still and always\u2014a human reality. Jews dream of a world transformed, but we will not\u2014we cannot\u2014transcend the human condition. Our hope is for our humanity to be fulfilled, not overcome.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Thomas Cole, \u201cExpulsion from the Garden of Eden\u201d 1828 \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64773,"alt":"","title":"Is2-eden","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","width":799,"height":579,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-300x217.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-768x557.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":557,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","large-width":799,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","1536x1536-width":799,"1536x1536-height":579,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","2048x2048-width":799,"2048x2048-height":579,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","post_full_size-width":799,"post_full_size-height":579,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-580x420.jpg","home_baner-width":580,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Tabernacle As An Island Of Eden","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"We dream of a world transformed, but we cannot transcend the human condition","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":64773,"alt":"","title":"Is2-eden","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","width":799,"height":579,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-300x217.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-768x557.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":557,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","large-width":799,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","1536x1536-width":799,"1536x1536-height":579,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","2048x2048-width":799,"2048x2048-height":579,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden.jpg","post_full_size-width":799,"post_full_size-height":579,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Is2-eden-580x420.jpg","home_baner-width":580,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"668","name":"Tabernacle","old_id":"1068"},{"term_id":"674","name":"Eden","old_id":"1074"}]},{"order":11,"id":"42546","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Meaning of the Cherubim ","post_title":"The Meaning Of The Cherubim","slug":"the-meaning-of-the-cherubim","old_id":"42546","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33923,"post_title":"Jonathan Sacks","slug":"rabbi-lord-jonathan-sacks","old_id":"33923","first_name":"Jonathan ","last_name":"Sacks","description":"An international religious leader, philosopher, and award-winning author of over 35 books, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the International President of 929.\r\nRabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth years between 1991 and 2013, and was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2005 and made a Life Peer. Rabbi Sacks passed away on 7th November 2020, aged 72. He was one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, who bridged the religious and secular world through his ground-breaking canon of work.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z\"k (1948-2020) was the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, and the International 929 president.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36222,"alt":"","title":"JSacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","width":437,"height":548,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-239x300.jpg","medium-width":239,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-768x448.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":448,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-1024x597.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","1536x1536-width":437,"1536x1536-height":548,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","2048x2048-width":437,"2048x2048-height":548,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","post_full_size-width":437,"post_full_size-height":548,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God speaks where two persons turn their face to one another in love, embrace, generosity and care","post_main_content_content":"

There is a strange and lovely detail in the construction of the sanctuary. The holiest item of its furniture was the ark. It contained the holiest of objects, the tablets on which were written God\u2019s word, both the second set that remained whole, and the first that were shattered into fragments. Above the ark were two figures, cherubim. The Torah says that \u2018their faces were turned to one another\u2019 (Ex. 25: 20). Ostensibly this was a great risk. The Israelites had been told not to make any likeness that might be worshipped as a god, an idol. The sanctuary itself was constructed in the aftermath of such an episode, the making of the Golden Calf. Why then were figures introduced into the Holy of Holies?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The sages say (Hagigah 13b) they were like children. Or, in another interpretation (Yoma 54a), that they were intertwined like lovers. It was <\/span>between the two cherubs<\/span><\/em> that God spoke to Moses. The message of this symbol was so significant that it was deemed by God himself to be sufficient to outweigh the risk of misunderstanding. <\/span>God speaks where two persons turn their face to one another<\/span><\/em> in love, embrace, generosity and care. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s presence is everywhere. But not everywhere are we ready to receive it. When we open our \u2018I\u2019 to another\u2019s \u2018Thou\u2019 -- that is where God lives. We discover God\u2019s image in ourselves by discerning it in an other. God lives in <\/span>the between<\/span><\/em> that joins self to self through an act of covenantal kindness. That is c<\/em><\/span>hesed<\/span><\/em>, the physical deed in which soul touches soul and the universe acquires a personal face.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: To Heal a Fractured World<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":42687,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1120576106","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106.jpg","width":5400,"height":4564,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-300x254.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":254,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-768x649.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":649,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-1024x865.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":865,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1298,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1731,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-1200x1014.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1014,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-497x420.jpg","home_baner-width":497,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Meaning of the Cherubim","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God speaks where two persons turn their face to one another in love, embrace, generosity and care","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42687,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1120576106","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106.jpg","width":5400,"height":4564,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-300x254.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":254,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-768x649.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":649,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-1024x865.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":865,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1298,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1731,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-1200x1014.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1014,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/shutterstock_1120576106-497x420.jpg","home_baner-width":497,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"shutterstock 1120576106","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"669","name":"Cherub","old_id":"1069"}]},{"order":12,"id":"42548","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Table, Lamp, Closet? How to Build A Godly Home ","post_title":"Table, Lamp, Closet? How To Build A Godly Home","slug":"table-lamp-closet-how-to-build-a-godly-home","old_id":"42548","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33859,"post_title":"Avidan Freedman","slug":"avidan-freedman","old_id":"33859","first_name":"Avidan","last_name":"Freedman","description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. He is an activist advocating for moral limits on Israeli arms exports, and on behalf of African refugees, and a proud husband and father of 5. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, and from the Israeli chief rabbinate.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. ","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33860,"alt":"Avidan Freedman","title":"Avidan Freedman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","width":856,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-251x300.jpg","medium-width":251,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-768x919.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":919,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-856x1024.jpg","large-width":856,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","1536x1536-width":856,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","2048x2048-width":856,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-351x420.jpg","home_baner-width":351,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Then and now, screens block the encounter with the holy","post_main_content_content":"

What does it mean to make space for holiness? Chapter 25 is concerned with the interior decorating of the Tabernacle, with the stated purpose not that it be a home for God, but that it be a vehicle for God to make His home in us. On Sinai, we experienced God's overwhelming voice coming from the Heavens. Nachmanides suggests that the goal of the Tabernacle is to transform that once-in-history experience into the constant presence of God in our own world. In a somewhat later turn of phrase, to \"make heaven a place on earth.\" How do we accomplish that?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The furniture shows us the way. One unexpected element common to all the vessels described in this chapter is that they all have faces. The candles of the Menorah shine light towards \"its face\", the table holds the \"bread of faces\", and the holiest place on earth, the point of encounter, from which God's voice emanates, is in that space between the faces of the cherubs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud brings the message home. Only when people know how to encounter one another, when peace resides amongst the Jewish people, do the cherubs face one another, and can we hear God's voice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When you think about it, the same elements that fill the Tabernacle fill even the simplest home. A lamp, a table, a closet. In my own home, we have another element which has become all too central to our daily living- the screen. Actually, the Tabernacle has one too. The <\/span>masach<\/span><\/i> blocks the entrance to the holy. Our screens do the same, presenting a constant distraction from the opportunity to authentically encounter one another. But if we can manage to turn off Facebook and face one another, maybe we'll succeed in making a place worthy and appropriate for the presence of the Divine.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104968,"alt":"","title":"-628551de8e8e1--628551de8e8e2ex25-face screen digital.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","width":983,"height":787,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-300x240.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":240,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-768x615.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":615,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","large-width":983,"large-height":787,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":983,"1536x1536-height":787,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":983,"2048x2048-height":787,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":983,"post_full_size-height":787,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-525x420.jpg","home_baner-width":525,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Table, Lamp, Closet? How To Build A Godly Home","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Then and now, screens block the encounter with the holy","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":104968,"alt":"","title":"-628551de8e8e1--628551de8e8e2ex25-face screen digital.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","width":983,"height":787,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-300x240.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":240,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-768x615.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":615,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","large-width":983,"large-height":787,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":983,"1536x1536-height":787,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":983,"2048x2048-height":787,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":983,"post_full_size-height":787,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/628551de8e8e1-628551de8e8e2ex25-face-screen-digital.jpg-525x420.jpg","home_baner-width":525,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"480","name":"Holiness","old_id":"880"},{"term_id":"668","name":"Tabernacle","old_id":"1068"}]},{"order":13,"id":"42604","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Priming the Pump for Personal Revelation ","post_title":"Priming The Pump For Personal Revelation","slug":"priming-the-pump-for-personal-revelation","old_id":"42604","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38634,"post_title":"Rachel Barenblat","slug":"rachel-barenblat","old_id":"38634","first_name":"Rachel ","last_name":"Barenblat ","description":"Rabbi Rachel Barenblat has blogged since 2003 as the Velveteen Rabbi. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38635,"alt":"","title":"rachel barenblat","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","width":328,"height":424,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237-232x300.png","medium-width":232,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","medium_large-width":328,"medium_large-height":424,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","large-width":328,"large-height":424,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","1536x1536-width":328,"1536x1536-height":424,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","2048x2048-width":328,"2048x2048-height":424,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","post_full_size-width":328,"post_full_size-height":424,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237-325x420.png","home_baner-width":325,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Because I seek, God becomes revealed -- and so do I","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter contains exquisitely detailed instructions for the building of the Mishkan, but there is one intriguingly vague item: the two cherubs atop the ark. They are made of gold, have wings, and face each other. At least, in our chapter they face each other. In Chronicles, we read that the Temple cherubs faced the Temple, not each other.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Given these two disparate descriptions, our sages opined that the cherubs had a mystical ability to move in imitation of us. When the populace follow the mitzvot and treat each other lovingly the cherubs face each other. When we reject the mitzvot and treat each other dishonorably they turn away from each other, mirroring our turning away from God and each other.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the rabbi of the Warsaw Ghetto writes in his book Aish Kodesh, that when we stand before God in prayer addressing God as a \"you\" we draw forth that aspect of God with whom we can be in relationship. When we do that, we find God's presence in prayer -- and maybe find our own presence, our own deepest selves revealed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Book of Proverbs states that just as water reflects our faces back to us, so our hearts can reflect us to each other. When I connect to you as a \"thou,\" I see myself reflected in your heart. When I connect to God as \"thou,\" my yearning calls forth the divine presence, and I see myself reflected in the Divine. Because I seek, God becomes revealed -- and so do I. God becomes the mirror in which I see my deepest self.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The cherubs are also a kind of mirror. When we yearn for connection, and act out of that yearning, they face each other. When we lose sight of our yearning for God, for connection and holiness, and sanctified relationship, the mirroring goes away. They no longer face each other, and we lose the mirror in which we might have seen ourselves and God more deeply.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Spiritual life is a journey of constant rising and falling, trying and failing and trying again. We strive to be our very best. Then we notice that we've lost track of our best intentions, so we turn ourselves around to try again. That existential act of turning around to try again is <\/span>teshuvah<\/span><\/i>, repentance or return.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When we turn to face each other, there's the potential for experiencing God's presence in the space between us, the relational space, the I\/Thou space, like the relational space between the cherubs of old from which God's voice issued forth. When we turn to face God, we prime the pump for revelation -- and whether it's revelation of God's self, or revelation of our own deepest self, doesn't really matter. Either way, we open the door to our own transformation.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78824,"alt":"","title":"zeph1-face","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Priming 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His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Despite the shadows of our deeds, enhance now our sight.","post_main_content_content":"

\"And you shall make a Menorah of pure gold \u2026\" (Exodus 25:31)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Closer, yet closer,
\r\n<\/span>Pull us closer to Your name,
\r\n<\/span>Closer to its height.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We grope in darkness
\r\n<\/span>And stumble in the blackness,
\r\n<\/span>Surrounded by night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Beyond perception,
\r\n<\/span>The letters of Your name shine,
\r\n<\/span>Distant, star-like, bright.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet we sense their blaze,
\r\n<\/span>Their glowing sparks above us,
\r\n<\/span>Their power, their might.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Teach us how to read;
\r\n<\/span>Our lips will call out Your name,
\r\n<\/span>Our fingers will write.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Despite our mistakes
\r\n<\/span>And the shadows of our deeds,
\r\n<\/span>Enhance now our sight.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Despite our blindness
\r\n<\/span>And our stubborn, closed eyelids,
\r\n<\/span>Let us see Your light.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75452,"alt":"","title":"ez41-eye","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Haikus Of Light","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Despite the shadows of our deeds, enhance now our sight.","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75452,"alt":"","title":"ez41-eye","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez41-eye-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"}]},{"order":16,"id":"42226","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Exodus 25 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Exodus 25","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-exodus-25","old_id":"42226","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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A Heart Broken Open<\/span><\/a> by Rabbi Josh Feigelson: Explore heartbreak in Jewish texts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Mishkan is a Fractal, and So are You!<\/span><\/a> by Dan Epstein: How do patterns fit into the Tabernacle?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Exodus 25","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":18,"id":"115675","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points To Ponder: Exodus 25","post_title":"Points To Ponder: Exodus 25","slug":"points-to-ponder-exodus-25","old_id":"115675","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"75","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. An abundance of colors and textures<\/em>. See the list at verses 3-7. A list like this would pique the interest of any artist.<\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Starting from \u201cthe heart.\u201d<\/em> Surprisingly, the plan does not begin from sketching the outward structure, but rather from the interior design of the most interior: the ark, that will be in the innermost room in the Mishkan.<\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Holy creatures<\/em>. The presence of the cherubim in the holy of holies has been discussed at length by scholars and commentators. Worth looking into.<\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The table settings<\/em>. Together with the table, there is a commandment to make functional implements that will accompany the rituals that is carried out around the table. \u201cMake its bowls, ladles, jars and jugs with which to offer libations; make them of pure gold\u201d (verse 29). If this makes you uncomfortable, you\u2019ll be happy to know that the priests ate the show-bread, without using these tools.<\/li>\r\n\t
  5. The menorah \/ candelabrum<\/em>. If this is familiar to you, it\u2019s no coincidence. It has been taken from the context of the Mishkan, and appears in many of our symbols.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Daily Summary","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder: Exodus 25","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Exodus","chapter":"25","chapter_main_number":"75","date":"20251211","wall_id":"75"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/42209"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}