We know that there are many parallels between the building of the Mishkan and the story of Creation. There are language parallels, and hints in the description of the vessels used in the Mishkan. The interplay between the Mishkan and Shabbat tells us that as well. Hashem rested from the Creation on the seventh day and we rested from the Mishkan on the seventh day. In all, there are seven descriptions of the...Read more...
When it comes to making the actual Mishkan, there are two components the Parasha emphasizes as essential. They point in what seems to be opposite directions -- one is about the group and the other is about individuals. But both are essential.
First, for the only time in the Torah, Moshe is described as gathering the people together. This verb is never used any other time. They must come...Read more...
R’ Chaim Eisen spoke several times in the area during the week. In one of the high schools, he spoke about the famous disagreement between Rashi and the Ramban about the relationship of the Mishkan to the sin of the Golden Calf. According to the Ramban, the placement of the Golden Calf in our Parasha makes sense, The Mishkan has been planned already, it was part of the divine plan from the beginning. But...Read more...
This is a leap year, so this Parasha gets read by itself, with its own Haftara, and not together with Zachor, which is how it often comes out. [Today is Shushan Purim Katan. Purim on the 14th can’t come out on Shabbat but Shushan Purim does.] It gives us a rare chance to focus on the issues of the Parasha itself instead of on Amalek or Purim.
People think of the Parasha as being...Read more...
