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You shall make the planks/beams of the Mishkan of acacia wood, standing erect. (26:15)

The designation of the shittim tree, which is a variety of cedar, for the Mishkan dates back to Yaakov Avinu, who had cedars planted in Egypt. Prior to his passing, he instructed his sons to take the wood along when they left Egypt. He foresaw that one day they would be used in the Mishkan. In another view found in the Midrash, these cedars were planted by Avraham Avinu when he was in Egypt. Our Patriarch sought to concretize the foundations of our future Sanctuary, which represented to him the anchor of Klal Yisrael’s moral and religious survival through its…

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The staves shall remain in the rings of the Ark; they may not be removed from it. (25:15)

The staves/poles were to be left in the rings permanently. One who removed them was in violation of both a positive and prohibitive commandment. This restriction was not applied to carrying the poles of the Mizbayach, Altar, and the Shulchan, Table. Another unique aspect of the Badei HaAron, poles of the Ark, was that they protruded into the Paroches, Curtain, which separated the Kodesh HaKedoshim, Holy of Holies, from the Kodesh, Sanctuary. In other words, they were visible in the Mishkan and later in the Bais HaMikdash, but only through the Curtain – never directly. Indeed, this is the manner…

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And let them take for Me a portion. (25:2)

The Mishkan was the embodiment of kedushah, holiness, in this world. It teaches us that the mundane can – and should – be elevated. This is the concept of Judaism – elevating the mundane, sanctifying the physical. Whatever Hashem created can be used for a sublime purpose. If this attitude can be applied to simple, physical matters, then surely we can apply it to people. Regardless of one’s background or religious affiliation, one can become holy. The spark within him is a living potential. It only has to be stoked, and the flame will rise. When the Torah commands us…

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And let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion. (25:2)

The Bais Yisrael of Gur offers a homiletic rendering of this pasuk that has practical application, especially for those who devote themselves to Jewish outreach. An issue that concerns one who spends most of his time teaching Aleph Bais, the Hebrew alphabet, to those who are returning to Judaism, is that perhaps he might stunt his own personal growth. In addition, such people spend much of their time in environments that are, at best, quite distant from the milieu of a Torah way of life. Thus, this phenomenon has negatively impacted the ranks of those who might otherwise have chosen to…

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