Ki Tisah 2021

1The first section of the Parsha is a continuation of the last two. Trumah-Tetzaveh focused on the building and consecration of the Mishkan. Aaron and his sons were outfitted with the special garments and they too received a consecration ceremony. The opening section of our Parsha describes the ½ shekel every person must give on annual basis to the holy temple. It is one of the three “Trumot” or gifts from the people to enable the building. The other two gifts were “building fund” contributions. The ½ shekel in our Parsha was to be collected yearly and to be used for ongoing communal sacrifices, eg The daily Tamid and Musaf among others. Next the Torah describes the Kiyor or washing station used by the Kohanim each day to prepare for the day’s Avodah. Next is a description of the anointing oil to be used to sanctify all the vessels and the walls of the Mishkan. Next is a partial description of the spices to be used on the inner golden alter. Finally, Betzalel was appointed to oversee the construction of the entire project.

2After a brief section covering Shmirat Shabbat, the Torah describes in great detail what many consider the lowest point in Jewish history; the golden calf. We are told of the circumstances leading up to the incident and the resultant consequences including most importantly the braking of the covenantal tablets. We read about Moshe’s begging forgiveness for his people, G-d forgiveness and a renewal of the covenant. The parsha ends with Moshe camped outside the camp, replete with a shining countenance and a mask.

3Rashi and Ramban argue over the order and purpose of the Mishkan. According to Rashi everything about the Mishkan occurred following the golden calf. Although the Torah placed the Mishkan earlier in the book Rashi subscribes to the principal that there is no real order in the Torah. “Ein mukdam omeuchar batorah”. However according to the Ramban the Mishkan commandments were given at Sinai and subsequently delayed until after the golden calf. According to Rashi we need to understand the order of the book. It may be that chronologically there is no clear order to the sections. There must be a reason for the Torah to be written in the order it was written. Possibly, according to Rashi, the Torah is telling us not to misunderstand the Mishkan. The Mishkan is not, as many feel, a response to the worship of the golden calf. The Mishkan in fact preceded it and superseded it. It’s possible that had the Mishkan been erected sooner Moshe’s absence would have caused less anxiety. The need for Moshe’s presence would have been less crucial as people would have looked to Aaron for leadership and to the Mishkan for service. As such, the Mishkan was not a response to the golden calf just a preemptive solution. Had there been a Mishkan there would not have been a golden calf!

4In our post-temple era, the synagogue acts like the Mishkan, keeping the Jewish people away from the ways of the golden calf. Much of the Mishkan experience remains in some form in our liturgy and in our synagogue practices. The eighteen blessings recited daily parallel the daily Tamid sacrifices. The sections of the Torah concerning the sacrifices “Parshat karbanot” are recited daily. The rules governing the daily spices burned in the Mishkan “Parshat ketores” is read weekly and by many daily. We wash before prayers like the Kohanim in their Kiyor washing station. The washing ceremony performed by the Kohen prior to his blessing the people is to commemorate the Kiyor. (Ramban) The candles survive in Nerot Channukah, Shabbat, and in our synagogue eternal light. The ½ shekel is collected on Purim day, to support ongoing expenses. The Kohen’s societal prioritization and higher sanctification is reflected in Birkat Kohanim and in the order of aliyot. We structure our shuls to face east towards the Holy Temple. According to the Rambam we need to imagine ourselves standing before the Holy Temple during our silent prayers. Our songs and melodies are those the Levites sang in the temple. The mourners Kadish has the feel of a choir, it only works when everyone sings together. We have a holy ark (Aron), a curtain (Parochet) and rules about synagogue decorum that are reminiscent of the rules associated with temple rules (Morah Mikdash). Our holiday services esp. the High holidays all send us back to the services in the Temple. The white garments are just like the Kohen Gadol’s white garments (Bigdei Lavan.) The list goes on and on. May we be worthy of the rebuilding of the third Holy Temple so that we can experience the real thing soon in our time.

5Dedicated to the memory of Joel Shulman A’H