Sedra of the week: Terumah
By Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman
The Torah describes the construction and assembly of the Tabernacle, which served as a portable temple for the Jewish people until King Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Gemara (Yoma 72b) explains that the Ark was formed by making three pieces which had four walls and a base which slotted into one another. The middle section was made of wood (Exodus 25:10), while the inner and outer sections were gold covering the wooden core both inside and out (ibid. 11).
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Rav Tzaddok HaKohen (d. 1900) questioned why it was necessary to make the central part out of wood if it was going to be covered with gold in any case. He explained that the two golden parts remind us that our inner character should be a true reflection of the external image we project to others.
While the wooden core remains hidden, it connects the external to the internal. But why specifically wood? King Solomon likens Torah to a tree (Proverbs 3:18).
It is firmly rooted in the Divine, but continually grows bearing new fruit.
The wooden core of the Ark therefore represents the inspiration and means with which to live life as honest, integrated human beings. Yet King Solomon declares ‘Eitz Chaim hi’ – the Torah is not merely any tree, but the Tree of Life.
When Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden, the path back was blocked by the fire of a revolving sword and guarded by two cherubim. The Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden represented eternal life in the physical world.
It had to be guarded to prevent man from becoming immortal and attaining a godlike status.
Torah however, is also called a Tree of Life. It cannot bestow physical immortality, but it feeds and nourishes our souls, strengthening our connection to the Divine, thus imparting spiritual perpetuity to ‘those who grasp it’ (ibid.).
Therefore, the very same cherubim that guard the entrance to the Garden of Eden adorn the holy Ark of the Covenant, guiding us to spiritual immortality. Similarly, the Midrash Tanchuma (Vayechi 14) describes a Torah scholar as a cherev pifiyot, a double-edged sword.
Their Torah learning resembles fire (Deuteronomy 33:2), which gives warmth and light to those who learn from them.
The Ark therefore serves as a focus of connection with God, bringing heaven down to earth and directing our hearts to the everlasting light of the Divine.
• Dr Moshe Freedman is rabbi of New West End Synagogue
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)