Terumah

Hi,

This week's portion is Terumah.

The portion begins with instructions for building the Mishkan, a Tabernacle which would travel through the desert with the Jews, and would be the focal worship site for them.
There is some debate as to whether these instructions for the Mishkan were presented before the Jews sinned in building the idolatrous Golden Calf, or whether the Mishkan was Gd’s response to the Golden Calf. According to the latter explanation, Gd had initially intended to manifest Himself to each person individually, and then the Golden Calf changed His approach.

Here is a brief outline of the items described in our Torah portion:
Aron – Ark
This held the tablets Moshe brought back from Sinai. There may have been two of these Arks, one for the tablets Moshe broke and one for the second set; it is not clear from the Torah’s text.
The Aron was a rectangular box made of wood, coated inside and outside with gold. There was a gold lid, too, and statues of two K’ruvim (Cherubs) topped the lid. The Aron stood in the western part of the Mishkan.

Shulchan – Table
This table held twelve loaves of bread, which remained there from one Shabbat to the next.
It was made of wood, with gold plating. It stood in front (East) of the Aron, but off to the north.

M’norah – Candelabrum
The seven-branched M’norah was lit each night.
It was made of a single chunk of gold, and was beautified with inlaid designs. It stood in front (East) of the Aron, but off to the south, opposite the Shulchan.

Mishkan – The Tent
The Mishkan was a roof made of drapes, woven from various types of threads. The roof was supported by wood posts, which themselves had silver supports at their bases. The drapes were covered by colorful hides.

Parochet – Curtain
There was one curtain hanging in front of the Aron, and a second curtain hanging at the entrance of the Mishkan.

Copper Mizbeiach - Copper altar
This altar was a hollow wood structure. The wood was coated with copper.

Chatzeir – Yard
There were a set of wood posts, with copper and silver supports, running around a yard around the Mishkan. The posts held woven walls.

Have a great day,
Mordechai