YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Tetzave
We will now quote sections of the Ramban (Shemot 25:2): "Hashem spoke the Ten Commandments face to face to Israel … they were fit to have a sanctuary with the Divine Presence among them. That is the reason that Hashem commanded about the Mishkan from the outset … there Hashem would speak to Moshe and command Bnei Yisrael. The main reason for the Mishkan is for there to be a place for the aron (ark) to dwell … so that the Divine Presence, which was at Sinai, could dwell in a hidden manner … when Moshe would come, the divine speech would come to him as it had at Sinai… The pasuk repeats ‘And He would speak to him’ to teach that which we know based on tradition – that the voice would come from the Heaven to Moshe from above the kaporet (the cover of the aron)."
The Ramban’s thesis adds flavor to two other sources. The Yerushalmi (Megilla 1:12) says that whenever the aron was in the Mikdash it was forbidden to bring sacrifices on bamot (local altars). As soon as the aron was removed from the Mikdash, it became permitted to sacrifice on bamot. This statement of Chazal lends tremendous importance to the aron. It follows that the Mishkan/Mikdash loses a great degree of its significance without the aron. Thus, when the Plishtim captured the aron and it was out of the Mishkan for 57 years, it was permitted to sacrifice outside the Mishkan. Once the Mikdash was built with the aron in its midst, the prohibition of sacrificing on bamot became permanent.
What happened when the first Beit Hamikdash was destroyed? What would happen if the aron were taken out of the Mikdash? Would the Divine Presence leave as well? Chazal hinted at the following answer. The gemara (Yoma 52a) tells that King Yoshiyahu hid the aron under the ground of the Mikdash because he foresaw the nearing destruction of the Mikdash. Realize that Yoshiyahu was the first and only king to effectively stamp out the sacrifices on bamot. In order to ensure that the prohibition on bamot would not fall by the wayside, he made sure that the aron would stay on the premises of the Mikdash.
Next week, we will look at another element that illustrates the special spiritual power of the aron. Let us pray that we will soon merit a full Divine revelation, as it was at the time of the giving of the Torah and at the time that the Mikdash stood, complete with its vessels. This will be a tikkun (a way to fix) for the sin of the Jews of Shushan, who, by using vessels of the Mikdash, declared that the Divine Presence no longer dwelled on the Mikdash and its vessels.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
