From TorahVort.com
Terumah
Here is part two of this week’s Dvar Torah; we left off relating the various components of the tabernacle, last speaking about the curtains and sockets. The sages state that if one learns the laws of the making of the tabernacle or temple, especially learning this Parshah, it is as if they get credit for having built the tabernacle/temple themselves!! Towards the end of the reading, the Parshah relates the structure of the copper alter. On this alter the sacrifices were offered. It was located in the outer courtyard of the tabernacle and was also known as the ‘earthen’ alter, as it was built hollow inside and had to be filled with earth whenever Israel camped in the wilderness. The Copper alter had four horns in its corners, this represented the four supreme distinctions that were rewarded to the Jewish People at Mount Sinai. They were; the greatness of becoming G-d’s chosen nation, the crown of Torah (a crown that we have cherished throughout history, especially by Noah’s son, Shem, who opened up a yeshiva with his great grandson ‘Eber.’ Which was a place Yaakov learned for 14 years before living with Lavan), The Kehuna and also the monarchy (throughout Jewish history we had many kings, including, David, Saul, Ahaz, Achav, Rechavim, Chizkyahu and many more! The purpose of the alter was to grant the Jewish people four things; forgiveness, merit, blessing and life!! I would like to take you guys through a journey in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), in chapter five, it relates ten miracles which occurred regularly in the temple, and they were; No woman ever miscarried because of the aroma of the sacrificial meat (which was a gorgeous aroma as many of the Eruv Rav converted to Judaism as was seen in Parshat Bo due to the strong aroma), the sacrificial meat never became putrid, no fly was ever seen in the place where the meat was butchered, no seminal emission occurred to the High priest on Yom Kippur (there were 18 Kohen Gadols during the 410 year first temple era and 300 + Kohen gadols during the 420 year second temple era), the rains never extinguished the fire on the alter, the wind did not disperse the vertical column of smoke from the alter, no disqualification was ever found in the omer sacrifice or show bread, the people were able to stand together and prostrate themselves (despite there being 600,000 + people in a small room!!). The Haftorah for this weeks reading comes from the first book of ‘Kings,’ starting in Chapter 5. The Haftorah relates how King Solomon built the first temple. He built its exterior walls from perfectly hewed stones from the quarry that did not require any cutting or planting. One of the first tasks of King Solomon, when he became the king, was to build the temple. We also see a friendship emerge from this ‘temple building period’ between King Solomon and the King of the land ‘Tyre,’ a man of the name Chiram. Chiram supplied Soloman with countless materials and areas in assisting the construction of the temple. We actually see, Chiram gets rewarded with a very long life, outliving over 20 Generations! According to a Midrash, he went up to Gan Eden alive. Great News! MY Dvar Torah website is online now, please all check it out http://www.torahvort.com I will be putting up the Dvar Torahs on this site and also check out the audio section for the website, where you can download the insights on the weekly reading, where I will be giving different insights on the parshah! Hope you all enjoy it!!! Not all Dvar Torahs are up yet, and only this weeks shiur is on the website. You can download this weeks insights, the address is http://www.torahvort.com/shiur/terumahinsight.wma I will be adding to it as each week goes by. Hope you all enjoy it! Have a fantastic Shabbat!! Shabbat Shalom!! By Michael Zaroovabeli
