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Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur…did all that Hashem commanded Moshe. (38:22)

Chazal attribute Betzalel’s name to his superior wisdom. They relate that when Hashem told Moshe to oversee the construction of the Mishkan and its vessels, Moshe conveyed the message to Betzalel so that the sequence was: first the vessels and then the Mishkan. Betzalel questioned this order, remarking, “The minhag ha’olam, usual custom, is to build a house and then afterwards bring the furniture into it. You, however, are telling me to first make the vessels. Where will I put them in the interim until the Mishkan is built? Perhaps Hashem told you to construct the Mishkan first and then…

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He put the Shulchan in the Ohel Moed on the north side of the Mishkan…He placed the Menorah in the Ohel Moed…on the south side of the Mishkan. (40:22,24)

In the Talmud Bava Basra 25b Chazal say, “He who desires to become wise shall go south; He who desires to become wealthy shall go north. The placement of the Shulchan in the north and the Menorah in the south supports this idea. The Shulchan symbolized material wealth, since it was the medium through which the blessing of nourishment flowed to the world. The Menorah represented Torah wisdom, which is compared to light. The wisdom of the Torah illuminates the path of life before a person and guides him along the way. Consequently, the Menorah was placed on the right…

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Moshe could not enter the Ohel Moed, for the cloud rested upon it. (40:35)

The Midrash explains that Moshe was not afraid to enter through the cloud. Indeed, we find in Parashas Mishpatim 24:18 that the cloud split open and permitted Moshe to walk through as if the path had been paved for him. Rather, the meaning of “v’lo yachol,” “Moshe could not enter,” is that Moshe gave reverence to the Shechinah and did not enter until Hashem called him. We may question the Torah’s use of the phrase, “v’lo Yachol” “He could not.” If Moshe’s reluctance to enter was due to his remarkable derech eretz, respect for the Al-mighty, the Torah should have…

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And Moshe raised up the Mishkan. (40:18)

Sforno explains that Moshe did not raise up the Mishkan in the usual sense. He first hung up the ten Yerios, curtains, which essentially represent the Mishkan. Afterwards, he laid down the Adanim, sockets, and interfaced the Kerashim, wooden beams, with them. Apparently, Moshe either had the Leviim hold up the curtains until the foundation was placed beneath them, or they were suspended miraculously in mid-air. Obviously, this is why no one but Moshe Rabbeinu was able to raise up the Mishkan. The question is why Moshe found it necessary to raise up the Mishkan in this manner. Furthermore, if…

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“And they made the holy vestments … as Hashem had commanded Moshe.” (39:1)

The phrase “As Hashem had commanded Moshe,” is written eighteen times in the parsha.  Chazal note the Torah’s emphasis on the people’s strict compliance with Hashem’s command. We may wonder at the significance of this phrase. Can one do other than  “as Hashem commanded”? If one is told to perform a duty in a specific manner, then he should execute said activity in the prescribed manner — as he was told. Is that unreasonable to expect? When we explore the tendencies of human nature, we note that even when people are instructed to do something in a specific manner, when all…

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“And they attached the Choshen by its rings to the rings of the Eiphod… the Choshen shall not be loosened from the Eiphod.” (39:21)

We may infer from the pasuk that once the Eiphod and the Choshen were attached, they were to remain that way always. Consequently, Aharon donned a single garment. This is inconsistent with the pasuk in Parashas Tzav (Vayikra 8:7,8), which implies that Aharon put on two separate garments. Horav David Feinstein, Shlita, suggests that in Parashas Tzav the Torah‘s intention was regarding the threads which connect the two garments, whether to be loosened or tightened, so that it fit the Kohen Gadol properly. Horav Feinstein proceeds to expound upon the symbolism between the two garments which were worn as one….

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“And so Moshe finished the work.” (40:33)

The parsha concludes with the final account of the erection of the Mishkan. It mandates the precise placement of the Shulchan, table, the menorah, and the Aron Hakodesh. The entire parsha is a study in detail, providing the exact description of each vessel and the specific verbs used to describe each activity necessary for creating these vessels. Examples include: “and he gave;” “and he placed;” “and he brought;” “and he spread out;” “and he screened.”             Horav Moshe Swift, z.l., notes the Torah‘s emphasis on each activity. Every man has his own job to perform. One cannot be a silent…

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“For the cloud of Hashem (was) upon the Mishkan by day and used to be on it (by) night, before the eyes of all the House of Yisrael throughout their journeys.” (40:38)

The importance of the words, “before the eyes of all Yisrael,” is indicated by their placement at the end of Sefer Shemos. Similarly, at the end of Sefer Devarim we find a comparable statement, which concludes the entire Chumash. The emphasis is placed upon the fact that this generation has served as eternal witnesses to attest to Hashem’s wondrous glory to all future generations. Today we view events of the past through the eyes of that generation. Hashem’s power, might, and miracles were demonstrated before a whole nation, not in an isolated place before a select group of witnesses. Consequently,…

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“These are the accounts of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of the testimony.” (38:21)

The Ramban explains that the recounting of the details of the Mishkan demonstrates the virtue of those who were involved in its building. Hashem’s love for the Mishkan is obvious. The focal point of the Mishkan was the Kodesh Hakadashim (Holy of Holies). The Aron Hakodesh, which contained the two Luchos, was placed in its center. Thus, we are able to identify the real source of Hashem’s love for the Mishkan as being the Torah. The Midrash describes this love with a beautiful parable. A king, who loved his only daughter very much, married her off to a young prince…

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“These are the accounts of the Mishkan.” (38:21)

The Midrash states that the word vkt (these) which begins our parsha, is closely connected with another “vktw” namely “lhvkt vkt ktrah” (These are your Gods O’ Israel). This rebellious statement was uttered by the people who threw themselves at the feet of the Golden-Calf. Although Hashem responded to this uprising with grave measures, Bnei Yisrael were given the opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness. Hashem said to them “With one vkt you angered Me, and with the other vkt you will appease Me.” The shocking crime of the Golden-Calf was forgiven because Bnei Yisrael displayed the same zeal and…

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