PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

Hatarah Vayakhel-Pekudei: Columns

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haftarah

I Kings 7:13-26.

This week we backtrack to the construction details for the first Holy Temple–reminding us that the haftorah portions were often chosen to parallel the accompanying parshot rather than progress sequentially.

Haftarah for Terumah.

While we’re in the midst of construction, King Solomon calls for an expert coppersmith, Hiram of Tyre, to create copper columns for the doorway to the Temple; these were to be capped with intricate carvings of pomegranates and palm leaves. The right column was named Jachin; the left Boaz. Hiram was also to build a giant copper basin, sanding on 12 oxen statuary, three pointed in each direction, to be used as a mikvah for the priests.

The size of these massive columns were about 6-feet thick by 27-feet tall, and hollow, (four “fingers” thick) with 8-foot capitals, featuring brass lilies. Interestingly, despite that these giant columns, which would have been very much a “big [Read more…]

Haftarah Terumah: How To Build A Sanctuary

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haftarah

In this week’s haftorah, the process of building the Holy Temple is described: the Jewish (and non-Jewish) recruits and how the foundational stone was hewn, transported, and laid.

Typically we see more prophetic accounts described in the haftorah portions, yet this excerpt reads more like a snippet of a contract. King Solomon raised a levy of 30,000 men from throughout Israel, to be sent to Lebanon in alternating waves of ten-thousand; the men were to be in Lebanon one month, with two months home. This orchestration was led by Adoniram.

A total of 70,000 men “bore burdens” in executing this project, with 80,000 hewers in the mountains. Even the hierarchy of middle management is described: Solomon’s chief officers, 3,300 who ruled over those who “wrought in the work.”

The Temple foundation was created from Solomon and Hiram’s builders from the stone and lumber brought from the tens of thousands of men called upon to [Read more…]

Patrick Tells “The Tent Joke” For Parshah Terumah (Torah Video Mashup)

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It’s early, and Patrick (our fearless leader) hasn’t had coffee. We’re stuck doing accounting and can’t cobble together a rightful Torah Video Mashup this week. So instead, Patrick tells the worst tent joke EVER. It’s like Old Jews Telling Jokes, only he’s a young Jew and his joke is…well…you’ll see.

Parshah Terumah: Tents and Tents-Ability

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(Subscribe to R. Michael’s weekly D’var Torah at OneShul’s IndieYeshiva by clicking here)

In this week’s Torah portion, Hashem tells us all about the construction of the Sanctuary, how big each piece of acacia wood needs to be, what kind of cloth to make the tents and curtains out of, even how many boards to use when making the Sanctuary walls! (It’s 48, by the way.)

What we are seeing this week is G-d specifically communicating how to make a space in which to dwell, how to create a holy place to house G-d’s presence among us.

There are a few other things that stand out this week as well.

The people of Israel are called to bring offerings to help build the Sanctuary. Notice though, that they aren’t commanded to bring offerings, but Hashem says “from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity”. We are shown that the only way we can build a space for G-d to dwell among us is if we give freely and generously to make this space complete. It has to happen through our free will. G-d doesn’t just magically appear in our lives, we have to give to make it happen. And not only give, but work! Throughout the portion G-d tells us over and over, very specifically and repeating instructions many times, exactly how to build what is needed for Hashem’s presence to be amidst us. This tells us that not only to we have to give, but we have to work, and work hard. Anything that is worth doing is worth doing right. And G-d tells us so. Does Hashem really need a tent made of goat skins or gold covered acacia wood poles? Probably not. But we are called to give generously of our time, our sweat, and our prized possessions, in order to create a space of holiness in the world.

Another point is the constant demonstration that happens through the textile arts. Hashem says to make numerous multicolored curtains, and to connect them with each other with loops and clasps, so that, as the Torah says, “the Mishkan will be one”. Only through the presence of Hashem can the many become one, echad. This miracle of unity is only available through the power of Hashem’s presence.

Most strikingly, however, is the fact that this sanctuary that is being built is portable. The Israelites were to keep G-d’s presence with them wherever they went. G-d travels with us. G-d has brought us out of Mitzrayim, the narrow places, and reminds us that as long as we create that space, G-d will be with us.

PARSHAT TERUMAH

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PARSHAT TERUMAH

I’m sitting at the counter of the cafe my girlfriend* works at, reading Parshat Terumah. Between serving customers, she looks over and says, “OK Patrick, read the Torah to me.”

The first line of the Parshat is G-d asking for gifts of gold, silver, copper, tanned skins, fine jewels and various other just-gotta-have-it Biblical sundries. She exclaims, “Wow, G-d’s being really dick, asking for gifts like that.”

And you know what, I gotta side with her on that one. Especially when G-d asks for dolphin skin**. I can’t even look at a can of tuna without feeling remorse (and thinking about Jessica Simpson).

A few moments later I tell her my favorite part of the Parshat: the construction of the ark. Being a former history major and archeology buff, she gets a certain glee, “the Indiana Jones ark!”

She turns around and rushes to the espresso machine to pump out another marvelous caffeine miracle, while encouraging me to go find the ark in Ethiopia and bring it back to her as a Valentines gift.

We do this back-and-forth a lot at her place of work. The constant flow of mocha-cafe-double-whip-diabetic-coma-juice and free wifi really gets my blood flowing, not to mention more time with her. But it’s also a sacrifice: she goes to work at 6:30AM and is drop-dead asleep by 9PM. I’m a night owl, barely closing my eyes around 1AM.

But I suck it up and go to bed early when I know she’s opening, because I feel a certain holiness to being there. The lights, the energy, the spirit of the coffee shop gives me what I need to accomplish my morning writing goals.

I know for a fact that opening that coffee shop costs a ton of money (my parents were in the restaurant business their entire lives). I’m sure that the Tabernacle, even with all its splendor, costs less than the construction, rent, utilities, staffing, food, dry goods, taxes and business services that this Mom and Pop coffee bar has. But if her boss had not put those resources into the business, it would not be able to serve its purpose. It’s an investment, and it’s worth it.

Bottom line: spirituality, like great coffee and great relationships, requires serious investment, and going the extra step. This is the spirit of Parshat Terumah.

*Dear Girlfriend, you have every right to hate my guts after reading this. I accept full responsibility, and promise to make it up to you, somehow.

**It may not have been dolphin, but scholars aren’t quite sure how to translate it. Either way, it’s really gross.

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