Torat Moishe - Moishe's Torah

The receiving of the 10 commandments was an open interaction with G-d, and the construction and use of the mishkan was a concealed compact version. It was their emblem of the covenant with G-d and it got me thinking about our symbols in our lives. Israelites had the mishkan, and our emblems are Star of David necklaces, books, and mezuzot. These are the things we take with us on our journey to remind us of our brit, just as the mishkan did in the days of old.

Terumah also features the introduction of the menorah. Aside from the obvious symbols of light, there is another hidden message during the fabrication of the menorah from the description and assembly instructions in the Torah. Basically Moses could not for the life of him construct a menorah from G-d’s description. (See Pashat Vayakel in a few weeks.) Bezalel instead was the one who could construct it properly. The lesson we learn here is that we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and we all bring something unique and irreplaceable to the table. No matter how impressive other people may seem, each individual person is a unique gift to humanity (even when compared to Moses). As Rabbi Bradley Artson, of the AJU, says, “the light of G-d’s love, justice, and concern can illuminate the world only through the individual light that we shine through our deeds, our communities, and our performance of mitzvot...like the menorah of old, we can illuminate the world.”