You may see something different if you go to my site to listen to this week’s lesson.  In order to more accurately fit the “biblical pattern”, I am thinking that the service will be divided into two parts.  The first part will consist of a very brief intro, The Shema, the 10 Commandments, Jeremiah 6:16 (one of my congregants has started his own tradition of quoting this aloud every Sabbath) and then the Torah and Prophets reading.  We will then take a break and I will teach for the remainder of the time.  In keeping with Nehemiah 8 we will try to conclude by mid day. I will call the two parts (1) Service and (2) Teaching.
 
For this Sabbath we taped off the synagogue according to the measurements of the tabernacle to get a feel for the story as we work through…complete with a holy place and holy of holies, an ark (a very simple box), a menorah, table etc.
 
Some remarks on this week’s lesson:
 
This week’s Torah portion is called Terumah.  The Hebrew word means a donation. Note that there is no command for everyone to “donate”, but for those whose heart is moved to do so. The whole congregation however is commanded to collect it.  The donation is for a specific purpose and consists of specific items.  These items are for YHWH and are to be used to make YHWH a holy place (miqdash) and He says, “I will ‘dwell’ in their midst. (compare Exodus 25:8; 29:45-46; Numbers 35:34; I Kings 6:13; Revelation 7:15)
 
Based upon these and related references, the rabbis began to speak of the ‘dwelling presence” of God as the Shekinah.
 
Friedman’s commentary says that though the word in 25:8 is typically translated as ‘dwell’, this verb is better associated with the denominative noun “mishkan” and thus is more accurately represented by the English word “tent”.  Thus, “I will tent among you”.  Note 2 Samuel 7:6 where we see how much God likes to dwell in tents!  This idea is beautifully pictured in the festivals of Succoth.  For a teaser, I discovered this root word in a place in this week’s reading, but that needs to be studied further before I comment on it.
 
There is more on the tabernacle and its contents in the Torah than any other subject.  Except for chapters 32-34 where we read of the golden calf incident, the rest of Exodus deals with our topic of the Tabernacle.
 
The tabernacle was made according to a “pattern” by the instruction of YHWH (see 25:9, 40).  Why was it so important to follow this pattern?  I Chronicles 28:11-19 says that the first Temple was also made according to a pattern.  The Hebrew here is (tav neeth).  I get the idea of a “replica” when I see this word and so translate it thusly.
 
What was the tabernacle for?  See Exodus 25:22 and 29:43.  It was to serve as a place where God meets with His people.  In fact, the tabernacle is referred to as the “tent of meeting” 146 times in the Hebrew Bible!
 
The first item described in this week’s lesson as being made is the ark (25:10ff).  It is a box.  It is a central piece of furniture and is in fact the ONLY things in the Holy of holies.  It is called the ark OF the testimony (Exodus 25:16-22).  Even the tabernacle is called the Tabernacle OF the testimony (38:21).  In Exodus 31:18 we read what precisely this “Testimony” is!
 
Now this was new to me.  In I Kings 8:4 and II Chronicles 5:5, we read that the tabernacle is brought to the Temple on the day that it was dedicated.
 
The Talmud reports that the tabernacle was stored in the 1st Temple.  In Sotah 9a we find the following:
 
“After the first Temple was erected, the tent of meeting was stored away; its boards, hooks, bars, pillars, and sockets.  Where were they stored? - R. Hisda said in the name of Abimi, ‘Beneath the crypts of the Temple.’”
 
The Temple was known as the “HOUSE OF THE TENT” (I Chronicles 9:23)!  This implies that the 1st Temple was not merely the replacement for the tent, but rather a repository for it!
 
In 2 Maccabees 2:4-8 we read one legend as to where it went next.
 
All in all the Torah reading this week speaks of degrees of holiness.  One day, predicts Jeremiah, the ark will not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed, nor will it be made again (3:16).  This foretells of a time when the “reality” is among us and therefore the “pattern” will no longer be necessary.
 
The Torah will be written on our hearts and not on stone.  We will no longer need to tell our neighbors to know YHWH, for all will know Him (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
 
Aside from the ark OF the testimony, we read of the “bread of faces”, the menorah, the curtains, the parochet (veil is not the right word for those that can follow a hint), a screen and the altar…all made according to a pattern shown to Moses.
 
I am thankful for the pattern and the ability to study these most wonderful replicas of things that God gave to Moses, and that the Jewish people so faithfully preserved.  It is interesting that in Exodus 26:6, the tabernacle is said to be Echad (one).  When the day comes that we will no longer need the Ark, Jerusalem will be the throne of God (Jeremiah 3:17).  At that time, YHWH will be One and His Name One (Zechariah 14:9).
 
Sabbath peace to you and yours.

 
icon for podpress  Teaching on Torah Reading Terumah [49:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
icon for podpress  Sabbath Service and Torah Reading for Terumah [30:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download