ON THE PARSHA Parshas Pekudei by Dovid Lipman, Israel Year 2, No. 22 Introduction This parsha, which tells how the Mishkan was finally built, has five parts: 1) Materials Overview 2) Making Priestly Clothes 3) Work Conclusion 4) Putting it Together 5) Hashem's Presence 1. Materials Overview - 38:21 [Beg.] to 39:1 The materials used for the Mishkan, in their respective amounts, are listed here, separating the construction of the Mishkan from the priestly clothes. The World of the Supernatural (39:1) "And from the techeiles-wool..." Why are the lists put in between the construction work and the garments' work? Perhaps there's a basic difference between the Mishkan and its vessels, and the clothes. There's a well-known phrase "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." If course, it's not true about everything. If you pool together money to buy something, the total is not inherently different from the parts - it's just more (which in this case is needed; without the larger amount, the product may be too expensive). The building and holy vessels of the Mishkan were not a useful or convenient way of collecting the materials. They were something much greater than the sum of their parts. The Menorah was not a pretty piece of gold. It shed light, symbolized wisdom, etc. Therefore, the building instruction for these came before the list of materials, because the materials failed to describe what was being made. On the other hand, the clothes of the Kohanim were for "honor and splendor" - i.e., for appearance. The point was for a Kohain to wear techeiles, argaman, and all the beautiful patterns of cloth, and how they were fashioned into clothes is also meaningful, but still secondary. So the materials are put first. As a result, the compilation of materials is given here, between the Mishkan work and the clothes' work. 2. Making Priestly Clothes -- 39:2 to 39:31 The workers, led by Betzalel, made the four types of clothing for the Kohanim (pants, belt, robe, hat) and the additional four for the Kohain Gadol (cloak, apron, breastplate and forehead-plate). Do You Remember? - from the files of On the Parsha 1. If Moshe couldn't penetrate the cloud of the Mishkan, how'd he get in on Har Sinai? (Yoma 4b) 2. Hoe tall was Moshe Rabbeinu? (Shabbos 92a) 3. Who paid for the first day's offerings? (Yerushalmi Shekalim 1:1) 3. Work Conclusion -- 39:32 to 39:43 [end, Chap. 39] The work completed, all the parts of the Mishkan and the clothes for the Kohanim are brought to Moshe, who gives his approval and blessing. A Time to Laugh (39:43) "...and Moshe blessed them." Rashi explains that he expressed his wish that Hashem's presence would dwell in their work. Why did they need Moshe's blessing? Well, if they'd been learning Torah or praying the whole time, they themselves would've had closeness to Hashem. But since they were trying to reach Hashem through WORKING, they needed to go and get a bracha from their "Rebbe". 4. Putting it Together -- 40:1 to 40:33 Hashem commands Moshe to assemble the Mishkan, and he does so on the first of Nissan, step by step. Worthy of Note "As Hashem commanded Moshe". This phrase concludes every second pasuk (except in one case) throughout the assembly of the Mishkan. This might be why Moshe had to assemble it himself. Just as Moshe was the only prophet who remained in the state of prophecy readiness constantly, he was also the only one who could keep his mind firmly on one motivation during the entire building - because Hashem told me to. Imagine - the people must have all known the loftiest secrets of the Mishkan, especially those the Torah calls "wise". How could anyone offer the holy incense purely "because Hashem commanded Moshe"? Only he could. 5. Hashem's Presence -- 40:34 to 40:38 [Chazak!] The book of Rebirth concludes as Hashem indeed fills the Mishkan with his presence, solidifying in the most tangible way possible the bond between Him and man. This is implied by the concluding verses. Since the travel or camping of the people was indicated by the cloud, they were being led by Hashem, "in front of their very eyes", in all their travels. May we merit His closeness soon.