Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Terumah/0/en

Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Terumah

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Does Hashem Need a House?

As God has no need of shelter, light, bread or meat, why did He command the nation to build the Tabernacle and its accompanying vessels? See Purpose of the Mishkan.

• According to RambanShemot 25 IntroductionAbout R. Moshe b. Nachman, the Mishkan facilitated the continuation of the Divine revelation which began at Mt. Sinai and Hashem's presence was literally contained within the building. Does this imply that God can be contained in a physical structure? What does it suggest about the concept of "sacred space;" are certain locations more holy than others? Finally, how would having God literally in your midst affect your relationship with Hashem?
• Sifre1About Sifre Devarim views the Tabernacle as a means to atone for the Sin of the Golden Calf. TanchumaTerumah 8About the Tanchuma, instead, focuses on how it serves as a sign to surrounding nations that God had forgiven Israel. What polemical factors might be motivating such a reading? Can you think of other cases where a commentator's understanding of a story is polemically motivated?
• ShadalShemot 25:1About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto suggests that the Tabernacle served to enhance not only man's relationship with Hashem but also to his fellow man. By providing a centralized location for all to gather in their worship of Hashem, the Mishkan served to unify the nation. What are other benefits of centralization? What are some of the down-sides?

Change of Plans

Was sacrificial worship in the Tabernacle always part of Hashem's plans?

• Seforno and Hoil Moshe suggest that though Hashem had always wanted a sacrificial service, he had not wanted to limit it to any individual group or place, preferring to be worshiped via individual altars rather than in a centralized Tabernacle.  Only after the Sin of the Golden Calf did He decide that the nation was not worthy of such worship and needed limitations and safeguards.  See Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood and Purpose of the Mishkan.
• Abarbanel, in contrast, suggests that in Hashem's original plan there was to be just a Tabernacle, a vehicle through which the nation would feel Hashem's presence. After the sin of the Golden Calf, however, Hashem added a sacrificial component to facilitate the atonement process.

Is it possible that Hashem can change His mind?  What textual difficulties might such a suggestion resolve?  Can you think of other cases where intervening events led to a change of plan?

Of Symbols and Meaning

We often look for symbolic meaning in rituals or objects, especially when no practical or simple explanation is readily apparent.

• What do bread, light and spices represent for you?  What symbolism might lie behind the Table, Menorah and Incense Altar?  See how Abarbanel reads these vessels
• R. Instead looks to parales from the