(Numbers 25:1-27:20)

(Kings I, 5:26-6:13)

1. If the Temple were to move between the tribes of Israel, it would give the message that God is everywhere. What purpose is served by having the Temple fixed in Jerusalem?
2. [25:15] What is the purpose of never removing the poles with which one carries the Ark? If they are only used for carrying, why must they always be in place?
3. The Torah also calls the mishkan Ohel Moed– the “tent of meeting.” Who or what meets in the mishkan?
4. [Haftara: Kings I 5:26] “…and God gave wisdom to Shlomo…” The Tanach (Divrei Hayamim I, 22:8) tells us that Shlomo built the Temple instead of his father David because David had been involved in many wars. If the Torah is so against wars, why are we commanded to make war at times—even not in self-defence?
5. [Siddur, Shaarej Teszuwa, page 98, „Boze moj…”] What is the meaning of “Let my soul be like the dust in relation to everything”?

Commentary

When a person falls from his spiritual level, he should know that this is a decree from Heaven–because distancing oneself is the beginning of getting closer. He fell in order to be awakened to the fact that he must get closer to God. He must begin with a new start to enter into the service of God—as if he had never started. This is the major rule in serving God: One has to begin fresh every day.

–R. Nachman of Breslov, 1772-1810, Ukraine.

This study page is dedicated to the memory of Sarah Bella bat Yitzchak Kummer, Chaim Yosef Yechiel ben Eliyahu Kummer and Eliyahu and Margaret Kummer