This week's parsha, Terumah, contains instructions about the various objects in the Tabernacle (the Mishkan). This is also Shabbos Zachor, the second of the special Shabbosim preceding Pesach. More about that later.
God's initial instruction is "And they shall make for me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst." (Shmos, 25:8). We of Ohev Shalom should be especially familiar with that saying since it is engraved on the outside of our building facing 16th street. The message is that when we build a synagogue, God dwells, not in the synagogue building alone, but among the people, wherever the people are.
The parsha goes on to say that the Jews shall make an ark (aron) and place within it the tablets of the law (Shmos 25:16). The Torah instructs that the ark should be overlaid with gold both "inside and outside" (25:13). The Talmud learns from these words that a Torah scholar whose "outside" conduct, that is, his conduct with others, does not reflect the wholesome views that he has within him, is not considered a "true" scholar.
The parsha also instructs that the utensils in the mishkan shall be made according to the pattern shown to Moshe "on the mountain" (Sinai).The Talmud interprets that an ark of fire and a table of fire, and a lamp stand of fire descended from the heaven, and Moshe fashioned these items to match what he saw coming from the heavens (25:10).
The second Torah reading this Shabbos, for Parshas Zachor, is Dvorim, 25:17-19. We are told that we must remember the perfidy of the Nation of Amalek, who attacked the weakest of us by surprise in the desert when we were exhausted and weak.
The Haftorah for Shabbos Zachor is from 1 Samuel, 15:2-34, It tells the tragic story of King Saul who lost his kingship because, in making war on Amalek, he spared the King of Amalek, Agag The rabbis say that Haman, the Agagite, descended from King Agag, who had been spared by Saul. King Saul was replaced by David, opening a great era in Jewish history.
NEXT WEEK - PURIM
Next Thursday -- close to the time that next week's Shabboom arrives in our inboxes -- Purim will begin. So perhaps we should discuss it briefly, now. Next Thursday night, and again on Friday, Megillat Esther will be read. The familiar story tells of Mordechai and his relative Esther, who, in the course of the megillah rendering becomes Queen Esther. The megillah relates Mordechai's and Esther's triumph over the evil Haman, who sought to exterminate the Jewish people.
In one incident in Megillat Esther, Mordechai overhears officers of King Achashveirosh plotting against him. He reports this to Queen Esther, who tells the King about the plot, and lets him know it was Mordechai who gave her the information. The king frustrates the plot and punishes the plotters. It is in part because Mordechai, who is now a hero in the king's eyes, is a Jew, that the King softens the decree against the Jews and orders that Haman be hanged. From that story, the rabbis learn this lesson: "Whoever gives information in the name of the person who is the source of the information brings redemption to the world."
