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In the past we explained that Shlomo wanted everyone who would visit the Beit Hamikdash to know that the Divine Presence dwelled there, having gone down from the Heavens to the chosen place on Earth. When the special copper shined in the sun, it looked like chariots of fire had landed in the Beit Hamikdash’s courtyard, where they remained permanently, along with the Divine Presence.
We will now suggest another explanation. Shlomo wanted the visitors to the Beit Hamikdash to return to the status of Adam before his sin or Bnei Yisrael before their sin of the Golden Calf (see Nefesh Hachayim 1:6). As such, each one could be blessed with a revelation of the Divine Presence, making each one a prophet of sorts. At the revelation at Sinai, indeed everyone had reached such a state, as they heard at least the first two commandments directly from Hashem, giving them their own "sighting of the ma’aseh merkava (Divine Chariot)."
Let us put things in perspective. Ma’aseh merkava is a nickname for the few places in Tanach in which there is a description of a direct, to the extent possible, meeting with the Divine Presence. One can see the Chariot, not its Rider. The first such description was at Sinai (see Shemot 24:10-11). We next find it at the prophecy of Michayhu ben Yimla, a contemporary of Eliyahu, who said: "I saw Hashem sitting on His throne, and all of the beings of the Heaven were standing to His right and to His left" (Melachim I, 22:19). More than a hundred years later, Yeshayahu pronounced that he saw "Hashem sitting on a lofty throne and His bottom part filled the Temple" (Yeshayahu 6:1). More than a hundred years after that, Yechezkel told, "The Heaven was opened, and I saw divine sights" (Yechezkel 1:1; see also 10:1; 43:2-3, for more detailed descriptions).
Comparing the merkava with the mechonot, we conclude that Shlomo aimed to give every person who visited the Beit Hamikdash the feeling of "gazing at the pleasantness of Hashem and visiting His Temple" (Tehillim 27:4). This was facilitated by the special shining of the mechonot’s copper. On a deeper level, Shlomo went a step further than David, in Tehillim, and tried to give simpler people than the great prophets an experience that seemed somewhat parallel. On the one hand, this can elevate them spiritually. On the other hand, those who reach levels that are arguably too high for them, could be spiritually damaged (see Chagiga 14b). May we all merit being on the level that David Hamelech strove for.
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
