Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Vayakhel/0/en

Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Vayakhel

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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 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. 
• Abarbanel, 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?¹  What textual difficulties might such a suggestion resolve?² What theological difficulties does it raise?  See Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood and Purpose of the Mishkan.

Does Hashem Need a House?

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? See Purpose of the Mishkan.

• According to Ramban, 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 would having God literally in your midst affect your relationship with Hashem?
• Shadal 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?

¹ Can you think of other cases in which an intervening event might have led to a change in Hashem's original plan? See Rashbam on The Decalogue: Direct From Hashem or Via Moshe? What other commandments might be understood to pertain to just one era? For two examples, see Hoil Moshe on"עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן" – An Eye for an Eye and Rambam on Purpose of the Sacrifices.

² The Hoil Moshe uses his explanation to account for the discrepancy in the laws regarding the altar in Shemot 20 and Shemot 27.