Mishkan

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The Mishkan: A Mini Mt. Sinai, or a 'Kosher' Golden Calf
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
תאריך פרסום: תשע"ג | | Hour and 5 minutes
In this shiur, we seek to understand the sin of the Golden calf. What is so bad about it? What can we learn from it? Through our study, we also gain insight into the role of the Mishkan and the ark.
Moshe's Leadership and the Transition of Generations
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
One of the central dilemmas in Avodat Hashem is the constant tension between abstraction and illustration. This lesson discusses the implications of this tension in the second half of the book of Bemidbar, in light of the Red Heifer.
A Return to the Garden of Eden
Rabbi Amnon Bazak
There are many similarities between the Mishkan and the creation of the universe. What is the significance of this comparison?
Concerning the Mishkan
Rabbi Yaakov Medan
The terms used to describe the Mishkan have specific meanings. Mikdash is another word for the Holy Ark; Mishkan refers to the fabrics covering the Mishkan; and the Ohel is the topmost goatskin covers. Placing the goatskins above the fabric coverings is symbolic of the Mishkan as a reflection of the relationship between God and Am Yisrael, as described in Shir Hashirim. This article discusses the symbolism of the structure, and the lengthiness of the Torah’s description of the measurements of the Mishkan.
Vessels of the Mishkan
Prof. Jonathan Grossman
The second mention of the Menorah opens the unit discussing the priests, and expresses the service of those who do not have access to God's direct revelation. The Altar of Incense and the washing basin are not mentioned alongside the other vessels, because they are not vessels that define the Mishkan; rather, they enable the work in the Mishkan. The washing basin enables the priests to work in the Mishkan, while the incense enables the Divine Presence to dwell in the Mishkan without endangering the people.
The Ten Commandments
Rabbi Yehuda Rock
The Torah refers to the 'ten' commandments on the two stone tablets - but the division and identification is not explicit. This lesson will offer three divisions based on the Mesorah, and a fourth suggestion for dividing the commandments into ten.
"When You Kindle the Lamps"
Rabbanit Sharon Rimon
Why is the Menorah discussed on three different occasions in the Torah? What is the significance of the Menorah in the context of its appearance in Bemidbar? An analysis of the appearances of the Menorah and the oil throughout the Torah demonstrates that the lighting of the Menorah holds special significance, symbolic of the relationship between the nation of Israel and the Mishkan - a relationship that is expressed in the book of Bemidbar as well.
Shimshon, David and Boaz: Passion and Restraint
Part 6
Dr. Yael Ziegler |
David, the royal progeny of Ruth, and Shimshon, the last shofet in Shoftim, have some striking similarities. Comparing the two, and examining the critical differences separating the king from the failed tribal champion, highlights the importance of Ruth and Boaz in serving as an antidote to the problematic period of Shoftim.
Of Parts and Pieces: The Instructions and Assembly of the Mishkan (Audio)
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 16 minutes
The lack of symmetry between the text's portrayal of God's commands pertaining to the Mishkan and Moshe's fulfilment of those commands hints to a message that the Torah seeks to convey about the Mishkan and its relationship to the people and the priests. This shiur explores the symbolism, significance and purpose of the representation of the Mishkan—the Tent of Meeting as a portable Sinai, as portrayed at the end of the book of Exodus.
The Camp and the Chariot (Audio)
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman |
This shiur explores concepts of sanctity and defilement (tuma'h ve-tahara), and compares their various appearances in the Torah. The placement of the tribal standards (Degalim) around the Mishkan is analyzed, and compared with the “Divine Chariot” vision of Ezekiel, where the keruvim (cherubim) surround the Divine Celestial Throne.
Meeting God
Rabbi Alex Israel | 34 minutes
In Parashat Teruma, we move to the world of the mishkan, from where, apparently, God “dwells amongst Bnei Yisrael”. These concepts can be difficult to comprehend, as is the long and detailed account of the building materials and process, and the differences of opinion by later commentaries about the placement of the Aron (Ark). Is God in the details? What is this for? We seek to understand the spiritual principles which guide the construction of the mishkan.
The Unity of Parashat Naso
Rabbi Alex Israel | 37 minutes
Naso is a long parasha, with various topics strung together (such as Gezel ha-Ger; Sotah, Nazir, and Birkat Kohanim). This shiur maps out the content and then seeks to explain the juxtaposition of the topics in this parsha which ultimately form a coherent whole.
Teruma: Carrying the Aron
Rabbi David Silverberg | 39 minutes
Parashat Teruma includes details of various items for the Mishkan. Some ambiguity in verses about the Ark of the Covenant (the Aron) prompts us to examine the topic of the Ark and its accoutrements in greater detail. This shiur makes use of classic commentary to analyze linguistic features of the text, and relates to passages in the Talmud which help us appreciate physical and symbolic elements of the Ark.
Angels In the Tabernacle? Part 2
Rabbi David Fohrman |
The mishkan is a human house built for God; the three partitions of the mishkan are each a way of peeling back a layer of creation - so we can truly connect with God. If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.
Parshat Naso
Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 28 minutes
Many of the topics in Parshat Naso seem to belong in Sefer Vayikra rather than in Sefer Bamidbar- Korbanot, Nazir, Sotah, Birkat Kohanim, etc. However, upon closer examination of each story, we can gain an understanding as to their connection to the nation, to the machane, and to the mishkan, and therefore why these are in fact appropriately placed in Sefer Bamidbar.
Completing the Machane (Audio)
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 12 minutes
How do the four "halakhic" sections that appear in Parashat Naso fit with the rest of the parasha, which deals with completing the construction of the Israelite encampment and, by extension, establishing a spiritually wholesome Jewish society?
Vayikra 16-20: From Sanctuary to Sanctity
Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish | Hour and 12 minutes
The book of Vayikra is best known for its lengthy discussion of ritual matters involving the Sanctuary, including the laws of sacrifices and of impurity. However, the latter part of the book has little to say on these matters, focusing instead on the ramifications of the Torah's injunction to "be holy". In this lecture we will examine the ways in which Chapters 16-20 of Vayikra serve as a bridge between these two topics. The issues discussed and their arrangement, as well as the use of keywords, verbal echoes, and imagery, serve to highlight both the differences and the interaction between sanctity focused on the Sanctuary and sanctity focused on everyday life.
Parashat HaShavua Tetzaveh - What is the Korban Tamid Doing Here?
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 27 minutes
Teruma is about how to build the mishkan. But what is Parashat Tetzave about? When we look at the parasha, ninety percent is about the Kohanim. These parashot form a dual whole about the construction of the Mikdash as a working building.
Close to the end of this week's parsha, the Torah sums up. But then there is a description of the Korban Tamid - the Daily Sacrifice, in a passage which is basically identical to one Parashat Pinhas. Why are there two identical sections about the Tamid, and what is it doing here in the Book of Shemot, instead of Vayikra or Bemidbar? The placement and unique aspect of giving of the Tamid at the opening of the Tent of Meeting in our parasha relates to a purpose of the Mishkan (And Mikdash): developing a relationship with God so that God will dwell within our midst.
The Ark of the Covenant
Rabbi Elchanan Samet
What is the purpose of the Ark of the Covenant? Through a textual analysis in Parshat Teruma, it is clear that the Ark (containing the Tablets of Testimony) and the Ark's covering (with the keruvim from between which God spoke to Moshe) represents the very heart of the Mishkan, The Ark also represents God's revelation to His nation as recorded upon the tablets of stone- thus the Ark expresses the mutual connection between God and Israel.
A Quick Look at Vayakhel - Pekudei
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 11 minutes
Most of the parsha is about the Mishkan, describing what is actually done to build the Mishkan, after the previous parshiyyot listed the detailed instructions. In the beginning of our parsha is a section with a few pesukim that repeat the prohibition to do melakha on Shabbat -also paralleling the previous parsha. We take a closer look at this section.
Kiyor, Shabbat, and Betzalel - Creativity and the Mishkan
Rabbi Moshe Taragin | 33 minutes
Vayakhel and Pekudei details the materials and the rituals of the Mishkan. One of the most fascinating vessels described in at the end of Vayakhel is the kiyyor (the washbasin) at the intersection of the sacred and the mundane. The washbasin was constructed from copper from the “mar’ot ha-tzov’ot”- assumed to refer to an ancient form of mirrors. Where did these mirrors come from? Who donated them? We see conflicting opinions among the commentators. We also look at the Divine inspiration of Betzalel, and the section about prohibiting melakha on Shabbat. All of these topics come together to send a message about the value of creativity and how it contributes to, and fits in with the Mishkan.
Of Parts and Pieces: The Instructions and Assembly of the Mishkan
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman
The lack of symmetry between the text's portrayal of God's commands pertaining to the Mishkan and Moshe's fulfilment of those commands hints to a message that the Torah seeks to convey about the Mishkan and its relationship to the people and the priests. This shiur explores the symbolism, significance and purpose of the representation of the Mishkan—the Tent of Meeting as a portable Sinai, as portrayed at the end of the book of Exodus.
Pesach and Sukkot, the Mishkan and the Mikdash
Rabbi Amnon Bazak
We find in the Torah two distinct calendar systems.  On the one hand, the Torah explicitly establishes that the year begins with the month of Nissan: "This month shall be for you the first of the months; it is for you the first of the months of the year" (Shemot 12:1).

The occasion of Yom Kippur, though, marks the "new year" of the yovel (Vayikra 25:9-10).  And yet, the Torah also speaks of the festival of Sukkot as occurring "when the year ends" (Exodus 23:16), and requires conducting the hakhel ceremony "at the end of seven years, at the time of the shemitta year, on the festival of Sukkot" (Deuteronomy 31:10).

What exactly is the nature of this calendar, and how does it relate to the calendar that begins with Nissan?  How can we view the festival of Sukkot as marking the end of the year, if Yom Kippur signifies the beginning of the year?  This point also bears relevance regarding the relationship between the Mishkan and the Beit Ha-Mikdash.

The dedication of the Mishkan took place on the first of Nissan –the onset of the "historical" new year (Shemot 40:17).  The dedication of the Temple, by contrast, took place in the month of Tishrei, during the festival of Sukkot (I Melakhim 8:1-2,65). How might this be explained?

The Mishkan and the Mikdash express different perspectives with regard to Am Yisrael's position in the world.  The Mishkan represents a temporary condition. The Beit Ha-Mikdash expresses stability.
Ramban on Teruma: The Mishkan and the Divine Presence
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 35 minutes
In his introduction to Parashat Teruma Ramban focuses on introducing the concept of the Mishkan and its placement in the Torah immediately after Parashat Mishpatim. Ramban seeks to explain the concept of why there is a need for a “Divine dwelling place” – what is the purpose of the Mishkan? He gives an interpretive summary of Parashat Yitro and Parashat Mishpatim, emphasizing that the Jewish people had received some mitzvot and had pre-emptively accepted all future mitzvot. They are now ready to be a special nation and to experience the Divine Presence in their midst.
Terumah: Is There a Face Hiding in the Tabernacle?
Rabbi David Fohrman |
In Parshat Terumah, we are given explicit details about how to build the mishkan, the Tabernacle that traveled with the nation of Israel through the wilderness. In this video, Rabbi Fohrman suggests that the mishkan might represent a hidden 'face' - and asks us to think about who we really are, our physical bodies, or the souls that lies behind them?

If you enjoyed this video, please visit AlephBeta.org to watch more.
Why Does Parashat Mishpatim Precede the Parashiyot of the Mishkan?
Rabbi Dr. Yoel Bin Nun
The Torah gives a prominent place to the laws of the Mishkan and the sacrifices, which seems to indicate their centrality. The Prophets, however, minimize their importance, focusing on the principles of justice and interpersonal relations. In this shiur, we will demonstrate how the Prophets read the Torah, in particular the order of the parshiyot from Yitro and on.