🎤Kol-🐥Hayyah🐘 - קוֹל־חַיָּ֖ה
Ki Tissa’ 5779: דבר תורה טבעוני, translated by Eliran Sobel
This week's Parashah is concerned with the building of the mishkan (the Tabernacle). Moses gathers the Israelites to command them about building the mishkan, but first, reminds them of the commandment of Shabbat. Keeping Shabbat was mentioned prior to this, in other contexts, but now, again, in the context of the construction and service of the mishkan. The connection between Shabbat and the mishkan is expressed through the laws of Shabbat, such that the prohibited acts on Shabbat are derived from the actions of building and worshipping in the mishkan.
"Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that the Eternal has commanded you to do: On six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Eternal; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the Shabbat day" (Exod. 35:1-3, adapted from NJPS).
These opening verses of the portion deal with the commandment of keeping Shabbat, and the prohibition of lighting a fire on Shabbat. But before this, there is a positive commandment, that is missed when reading quickly, "six days work shall be done." We are commanded to rest on Shabbat. But we are also commanded to do work throughout the week. Not to be idle, but to work.
"Rabbi Shim‘on b. ’El‘azar says: 'Even the first human was not able to taste anything until he did work, as it is said, "...and [God] placed him [Adam] in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it... Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat..." (Gen. 2:15-16). Rabbi Tarfon says: 'Even the Holy Blessed One's Presence didn't inhabit Israel, until they did work, as it is said, "And let them make Me [God] a sanctuary that I may dwell among them" (Exod. 25:8)'" (Midrash Philo 2:15:6).
The first human was created to till the Garden of Eden, to tend to it, and to eat its fruits. Only after he did work ("to till it and tend it") did he merit to benefit from it ("Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat"). Only one thing forbade the first human to be in the Garden of Eden, not eating from the Tree of Knowledge. But his craving led him to eat from the forbidden fruit, which was not meant for him.
In Parashat VaYaqhel, the Israelites are commanded to build the mishkan. God's Presence will only dwell in that place after they work and build the mishkan. The connection between the Shabbat and the mishkan is hinted in the first verses dealing with Shabbat. The first individual prohibition in these verses, "You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the Shabbat day," is a hint of the first offense that will be committed in the mishkan by the two sons of Aaron, the burning of a strange fire in the mishkan, during the dedication of the mishkan (Parashat Shemini, Lev. 9:1 - 11:47).
The first human and the two sons of Aaron sinned with something that was prohibited to them. The desire to eat the forbidden fruit, and to hasten the worship of God in our own ways - burning a strange fire in the mishkan - brought trouble.
God created the world and placed ’Adam at its center, in the Garden of Eden, and gave Adam the simple and clear commandment - to till and tend to the Garden of Eden. And in return - he would merit to eat the garden's fruits. The first human's craving led him to sin. Our desire to return and renew our days as before, as it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, to enjoy the fruits and vegetables in the Garden, as God had created, and to till and to tend to the garden.
Ki Tissa’ 5779: דבר תורה טבעוני, translated by Eliran Sobel
This week's Parashah is concerned with the building of the mishkan (the Tabernacle). Moses gathers the Israelites to command them about building the mishkan, but first, reminds them of the commandment of Shabbat. Keeping Shabbat was mentioned prior to this, in other contexts, but now, again, in the context of the construction and service of the mishkan. The connection between Shabbat and the mishkan is expressed through the laws of Shabbat, such that the prohibited acts on Shabbat are derived from the actions of building and worshipping in the mishkan.
"Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that the Eternal has commanded you to do: On six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Eternal; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the Shabbat day" (Exod. 35:1-3, adapted from NJPS).
These opening verses of the portion deal with the commandment of keeping Shabbat, and the prohibition of lighting a fire on Shabbat. But before this, there is a positive commandment, that is missed when reading quickly, "six days work shall be done." We are commanded to rest on Shabbat. But we are also commanded to do work throughout the week. Not to be idle, but to work.
"Rabbi Shim‘on b. ’El‘azar says: 'Even the first human was not able to taste anything until he did work, as it is said, "...and [God] placed him [Adam] in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it... Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat..." (Gen. 2:15-16). Rabbi Tarfon says: 'Even the Holy Blessed One's Presence didn't inhabit Israel, until they did work, as it is said, "And let them make Me [God] a sanctuary that I may dwell among them" (Exod. 25:8)'" (Midrash Philo 2:15:6).
The first human was created to till the Garden of Eden, to tend to it, and to eat its fruits. Only after he did work ("to till it and tend it") did he merit to benefit from it ("Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat"). Only one thing forbade the first human to be in the Garden of Eden, not eating from the Tree of Knowledge. But his craving led him to eat from the forbidden fruit, which was not meant for him.
In Parashat VaYaqhel, the Israelites are commanded to build the mishkan. God's Presence will only dwell in that place after they work and build the mishkan. The connection between the Shabbat and the mishkan is hinted in the first verses dealing with Shabbat. The first individual prohibition in these verses, "You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the Shabbat day," is a hint of the first offense that will be committed in the mishkan by the two sons of Aaron, the burning of a strange fire in the mishkan, during the dedication of the mishkan (Parashat Shemini, Lev. 9:1 - 11:47).
The first human and the two sons of Aaron sinned with something that was prohibited to them. The desire to eat the forbidden fruit, and to hasten the worship of God in our own ways - burning a strange fire in the mishkan - brought trouble.
God created the world and placed ’Adam at its center, in the Garden of Eden, and gave Adam the simple and clear commandment - to till and tend to the Garden of Eden. And in return - he would merit to eat the garden's fruits. The first human's craving led him to sin. Our desire to return and renew our days as before, as it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, to enjoy the fruits and vegetables in the Garden, as God had created, and to till and to tend to the garden.