Video Study for Parsha Pekudie : The Miskan Arises

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Shalom JTF Members,

Once again it is Wednesday and as usual I am looking forward to start learning the Torah portion of this week.

This week we are reading the portion Pekudie which most years is read along with the parsha of last week, Vayakel...

Not much except for an accounting of what was donated for the making of the tabernacle...

But a miracle occured, Moses was unable to single-handedly set up the Mishkan... So Hashem lent him a hand...

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1395/jewish/Pekudei-in-a-Nutshell.htm

An accounting is made of the gold, silver and copper donated by the people for the making of the Mishkan. Betzalel, Aholiav and their assistants make the eight priestly garments—the apron, breastplate, cloak, crown, hat, tunic, sash and breeches—according to the specifications communicated to Moses in the Parshah of Tetzaveh.

The Mishkan is completed and all its components are brought to Moses, who erects it and anoints it with the holy anointing oil, and initiates Aaron and his four sons into the priesthood. A cloud appears over the Mishkan, signifying the Divine Presence that has come to dwell within it.

http://www.ohrtmimim.org/Torah_Default.asp?id=2178

But here we see something interesting. When the Tabernacle was finished it refused to be assembled! The boards were simply too heavy and only Moses was able to erect them through a miracle! (Rashi on Exodus 39:33)

And, as though that wasn't enough, even then it wasn't completed! The Tabernacle still required Moses' blessing in order that G-d's presence (called 'Shechina) should really 'shine' there. (39:43)

At first glance, this is very hard to understand.

Let us start with the wise Rabbi Richman from the Temple Institute in Jerusalem:

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Some readers may consider this video 'too mystical' and 'not logical'.... But I am one who believes that Judaism exists 'beyond logic' and that Hashem is not in this world, and we must go beyond ourselves to even begin to perceive him.

Rabbi Chaim Miller from TorahInTen:

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Very ironic that Rabbi Miller states the idea that Judaism does require action in this world through the mitzvot in order to bring down his presence.

Here is the latest posting from Rabbi Finkelstein:

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Rabbi Machlis on the portion:

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A short word from Rabbi Herschel Finman...



Then a long word from Rabbi Katz...