Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Truma YOU ARE TO MAKE ITS LAMPS, SEVEN OF THEM, YOU ARE TO DRAW UP ITS LAMPWICKS SO THAT THEY LIGHT UP THE SPACE ACROSS FROM IT… NOW SEE AND MAKE, ACCORDING TO THEIR BUILDING PATTERN WHICH YOU ARE GRANTED TO SEE UPON THE MOUNTAIN.  (Shemot 25:37, 40)   Rabbi Yossi son of Rabbi Yehuda says: An ark of fire and a table of fire and a candelabra of fire descended from heaven; Moshe saw and made according to them, as is written (Shemot 25) "Now...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Truma LET THEM MAKE ME A SANCTUARY THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM. EXACTLY AS I SHOW YOU – THE PATTERN OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE PATTERN OF ALL ITS FURNISHINGS – SO SHALL YOU MAKE IT.     The Renewal of Sanctity Requires a King, A Prophet, and a Great Sanhedrin The tribe, the false prophet and the High Priest, are judged only by a Bet Din of seventy-one. An optional war is to be declared only by Bet Din of seventy-one. The City and...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat Truma Zachor (link to original page) Parshat Truma Shabbat Zachor "And this is the contribution that you are to take from them . . ." – to the exception of one who contributes that which is not his. (Yerushalmi, Terumot 1:1)   GIVING – EQUALLY AND HUMBLY Here is another explanation why the first two contributions (terumot) are ordered specifically in God's name, whereas the third is not. Wherever we find humility and submission among mortals, there we find the secret might of Holy One, who dwells among the oppressed and...