Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Terumah/0/he"
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<li>לפי <multilink><a href="RambanShemot25Introduction" data-aht="source">רמב"ן</a><a href="RambanShemot25Introduction" data-aht="source">שמות כ"ה הקדמה</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' משה בן נחמן</a></multilink>, the Mishkan served to house Hashem's presence and facilitated the continuation of the Divine revelation which began at Mt. Sinai. 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 holier than others? Finally, how might having Hashem literally in one's midst affect one's relationship with Him?</li> | <li>לפי <multilink><a href="RambanShemot25Introduction" data-aht="source">רמב"ן</a><a href="RambanShemot25Introduction" data-aht="source">שמות כ"ה הקדמה</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' משה בן נחמן</a></multilink>, the Mishkan served to house Hashem's presence and facilitated the continuation of the Divine revelation which began at Mt. Sinai. 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 holier than others? Finally, how might having Hashem literally in one's midst affect one's relationship with Him?</li> | ||
| − | <li><multilink><a href="SifreDevarim1" data-aht="source">ספרי דברים</a><a href="SifreDevarim1" data-aht="source">א'</a><a href="Sifre Devarim" data-aht="parshan">אודות ספרי דברים</a></multilink> views the Tabernacle as a means by which the Israelites atoned for the Sin of the Golden Calf, בעוד שמדרש <multilink><a href="TanchumaTerumah8" data-aht="source">תנחומא</a><a href="TanchumaTerumah8" data-aht="source">תרומה ח'</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">אודות התנחומא</a></multilink> focuses on how it serves as a sign to surrounding nations that God had forgiven Israel. What polemical factors might be motivating the Tanchuma's reading?<fn> | + | <li><multilink><a href="SifreDevarim1" data-aht="source">ספרי דברים</a><a href="SifreDevarim1" data-aht="source">א'</a><a href="Sifre Devarim" data-aht="parshan">אודות ספרי דברים</a></multilink> views the Tabernacle as a means by which the Israelites atoned for the Sin of the Golden Calf, בעוד שמדרש <multilink><a href="TanchumaTerumah8" data-aht="source">תנחומא</a><a href="TanchumaTerumah8" data-aht="source">תרומה ח'</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">אודות התנחומא</a></multilink> focuses on how it serves as a sign to surrounding nations that God had forgiven Israel. What polemical factors might be motivating the Tanchuma's reading?<fn>ייתכן שהמדרש מתפלמס באופן ישיר עם התפיסה הנוצרית לפיה חטא העגל פגע באופן יסודי בקשר בין ישראל לבין הקב"ה, ובני ישראל נענשו בכך שחייבים בכל המצוות ואינם זכאים לישועה בעזרת אמונה בלבד. לפי המדרש, דווקא הציווי לבניית המשכן ניתן לאחר חטא העגל, ואילו שאר המצוות ניתנו קודם לכן במרה או בהר סיני. לפני החטא. בנוסף, המשכן עצמו אינו סימן למערכת יחסים רעועה אלא סמל למערכת יחסים שחזרה לתיקונה.</fn> Can you think of other cases where a commentator's understanding of a story is polemically motivated?</li> |
<li><multilink><a href="ShadalShemot25-1" data-aht="source">שד"ל</a><a href="ShadalShemot25-1" data-aht="source">שמות כ"ה:א'</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל דוד לוצאטו</a></multilink> suggests that the Tabernacle enhanced man's relationship with not only Hashem but also with 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 downsides?</li> | <li><multilink><a href="ShadalShemot25-1" data-aht="source">שד"ל</a><a href="ShadalShemot25-1" data-aht="source">שמות כ"ה:א'</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' שמואל דוד לוצאטו</a></multilink> suggests that the Tabernacle enhanced man's relationship with not only Hashem but also with 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 downsides?</li> | ||
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<li><multilink><a href="AbarbanelYirmeyahu7" data-aht="source">אברבנאל</a><a href="AbarbanelYirmeyahu7" data-aht="source">ירמיהו ז'</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יצחק אברבנאל</a></multilink>, in contrast, suggests that Hashem's original plan included a Tabernacle as a vehicle through which the nation would feel Hashem's presence, but not sacrifices. After the Sin of the Golden Calf, however, Hashem added a sacrificial component to facilitate the atonement process.</li> | <li><multilink><a href="AbarbanelYirmeyahu7" data-aht="source">אברבנאל</a><a href="AbarbanelYirmeyahu7" data-aht="source">ירמיהו ז'</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' יצחק אברבנאל</a></multilink>, in contrast, suggests that Hashem's original plan included a Tabernacle as a vehicle through which the nation would feel Hashem's presence, but not sacrifices. After the Sin of the Golden Calf, however, Hashem added a sacrificial component to facilitate the atonement process.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| − | <p>Is it possible that Hashem changed His mind, or that a Torah commandment was relevant only for a particular era?<fn> | + | <p>Is it possible that Hashem changed His mind, or that a Torah commandment was relevant only for a particular era?<fn>האם תוכלו לחשוב על מקרים אחרים שבהם אירוע מסויים הביא לשינוי בתכנית המקורית של השם?  ראו רשב"ם על <a href="The Decalogue: Direct From Hashem or Via Moshe" data-aht="page">עשרת הדברים: ישירות מהקב"ה או דרך משה?</a>  לגבי איזה עוד מצוות ניתן להציע שהם ניתנו על רקע של נסיבות מיוחדות בתקופה מסוימת? לשתי דוגמאות, ראו בעל הואיל משה על <a href=""עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן" – An Eye for an Eye" data-aht="page">"עין תחת עין"</a> ורמב"ם על <a href="Purpose of the Sacrifices" data-aht="page">מטרת הקרבנות</a>.</fn>  What textual difficulties might such a suggestion resolve?<fn>בעל הואיל משה משתמש בהסבר שלו כדי להסביר את חוסר ההתאמה בחוקים הנוגעים למזבח בין <a href="Shemot20-20-22" data-aht="source">שמות כ'</a> ל<a href="Shemot27-1-8" data-aht="source">שמות כ"ז</a>.</fn>  What theological difficulties does it raise?  ראו <a href="Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood" data-aht="page">מזבחות אדמה, אבן, ועץ</a> ו<a href="Purpose of the Mishkan" data-aht="page">מטרת המשכן</a>.</p> |
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<category>טעמי המצוות | <category>טעמי המצוות | ||
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<p>What role does eating play in religious life? How many rites or commandments mandate partaking of food?</p> | <p>What role does eating play in religious life? How many rites or commandments mandate partaking of food?</p> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li>In the time of Tanakh, meals were often connected to signing covenantal agreements,<fn>ראו <a href="ANE:Treaties in Tanakh and the Ancient Near East" data-aht="page">בריתות בתנ"ך ובמזרח הקדמון</a>.</fn> serving the same function as a handshake might today. | + | <li>In the time of Tanakh, meals were often connected to signing covenantal agreements,<fn>ראו <a href="ANE:Treaties in Tanakh and the Ancient Near East" data-aht="page">בריתות בתנ"ך ובמזרח הקדמון</a>.</fn> serving the same function as a handshake might today. לאור זה, ר' חובב יחיאלי<fn>ראו ר' חובב יחיאלי, <a href="http://herzogpress.herzog.ac.il/gilayon.asp?gilh=%D7%9E%D7%93&ktav=1&gil=44">"תערך לפני שלחן – השולחן ולחם הפנים"</a>, מגדים מ"ד (תשס"ו): 49-33.</fn> מציע שלחם הפנים constituted a covenant sealing meal which continuously renewed the Covenant of Sinai.  What textual or conceptual support can you bring for this reading? ראו <a href="Purpose of the Shulchan and Lechem HaPanim" data-aht="page">מטרת השולחן ולחם הפנים</a>.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 07:35, 16 August 2019
נושאים לשולחן שבת – פרשת תרומה
האם ה' צריך בית?
As God has no need for shelter, light, bread, or meat, why did He command the Children of Israel to construct the Tabernacle and its accompanying vessels? ראו מטרת המשכן.
- לפי רמב"ן, the Mishkan served to house Hashem's presence and facilitated the continuation of the Divine revelation which began at Mt. Sinai. 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 holier than others? Finally, how might having Hashem literally in one's midst affect one's relationship with Him?
- ספרי דברים views the Tabernacle as a means by which the Israelites atoned for the Sin of the Golden Calf, בעוד שמדרש תנחומא focuses on how it serves as a sign to surrounding nations that God had forgiven Israel. What polemical factors might be motivating the Tanchuma's reading?1 Can you think of other cases where a commentator's understanding of a story is polemically motivated?
- שד"ל suggests that the Tabernacle enhanced man's relationship with not only Hashem but also with 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 downsides?
Change of Plans
Was sacrificial worship in the Tabernacle always part of Hashem's plans?
- ספורנו והואיל משה 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 private altars rather than in a centralized Tabernacle. Only after the Sin of the Golden Calf did He decide that the nation was not capable of such worship and instead needed limitations and safeguards.
- אברבנאל, in contrast, suggests that Hashem's original plan included a Tabernacle as a vehicle through which the nation would feel Hashem's presence, but not sacrifices. After the Sin of the Golden Calf, however, Hashem added a sacrificial component to facilitate the atonement process.
Is it possible that Hashem changed His mind, or that a Torah commandment was relevant only for a particular era?2 What textual difficulties might such a suggestion resolve?3 What theological difficulties does it raise? ראו מזבחות אדמה, אבן, ועץ ומטרת המשכן.
טעמי המצוות
The reasoning behind most commandments in not explicit in Torah. Though many interpersonal laws might be self-explanatory, a great number of laws between man and God, such as the need for the Tabernacle and its vessels, beg the "why" question.
- Is it preferable to look into the reasons for mitzvot, or to simply accept them without questioning? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
- To what extent must an explanation account for all the details of a commandment?
- Is it problematic to propose a practical or utilitarian purpose for a commandment, or to suggest that it is a concession to human foibles? In other words, must the Torah's laws represent an ideal and be inherently valuable, or might they simply be addressing human needs and nature? ראו מטרת המשכן.
Of Tables, Bread, and Covenants
We often look for symbolic meaning in rituals or religious objects. What symbolism might lie behind the ark, table, candelabrum, and incense altar?
- אברבנאל proposes that the ark symbolizes the Torah, while the other vessels represent the physical (table), intellectual (menorah) and spiritual (incense altar) rewards granted to those who observe the Torah's commandments. Do you find his suggestion compelling? Why or why not? ראו מטרת השולחן ולחם הפנים.
What role does eating play in religious life? How many rites or commandments mandate partaking of food?
- In the time of Tanakh, meals were often connected to signing covenantal agreements,4 serving the same function as a handshake might today. לאור זה, ר' חובב יחיאלי5 מציע שלחם הפנים constituted a covenant sealing meal which continuously renewed the Covenant of Sinai. What textual or conceptual support can you bring for this reading? ראו מטרת השולחן ולחם הפנים.
עוד...
לעוד נושאים בפרשה, ראו: רשימת נושאים – פרשת תרומה.
