TETSAVE_EXODUS XXVII:20-XXX:10
Moshe’s name is absent in these chapters, a fact that is due to a number of reasons. In fact, Moshe’s name is absent in other weekly readings, such as Ekev, Re’e, Shofetim, Ki Tavo. It is clear that the absence of Moshe’s name is due to the separation of the readings madebythe Babylonian Chajamim who divided the text of the Torah into 54 sections to be read weekly.
In ancient Israel it was customary to complete the reading of the Torah over a period of three years and therefore had a totally different division.
It should be noted that in the description of the Mishkan, in the Ki Tisa section, we find thename of Moshe repeated numerous times in a few verses, while in our case it does not appear once. The possible reason is that all the instructions in our text refer exclusively to the role of the Mishkan, its structure and basic elements, with special emphasis on sacrifices.
The Mishkan was designed to receive God on earth. The Columbia Spaceship, just as other such vehicles projected man to the heavens, challenging Tehillim’s warning included in Halel: Hashamayim shamayim laShem vehaarets natan livenei adam,“the heavens, the heavens are of HaShem and He gave the earth to the descendants of man”.
This time the audacity of man was apparently punished, and the tragedy of the Columbia spaceship presents us with numerous existential questions. Yet, it is likely that man will continue to explore the heavens. The irony was greater because it was the first time an Israeli, a Jew, had been chosen to integrate a space crew and notwithstanding that he was not strict in his observance of rituals, the astronaut Ilan Ramon recited Shabbat’s Kidush, insisted on Kasher food, and was accompanied by a Torah. The same Torah from whose text we read the rules of the earthly Mishkan.
The panoramic view of the globe allowed Ramon to turn the Columbia into a heavenly Mishkan, to bring the tradition of his ancestors closer to the Creator.
Bereshit teaches that God created an incomplete universe and placed man on earth to continue the great work of creation. Although he has no wings, man learned to fly and, although his usual terrain is earth, his projection and dream include heaven.
Ramon and his companions perished in this great adventure, but Humanity will continue with space exploration. Because it is not a challenge to the absolute sovereignty of the Creator, rather it is the daring of humans to fulfill the divine mandate “Laasot”, which God pronounced at the end of creation: much remains to be done to complete and decipher the universe and man by his endeavors, partners with the Creator.
MITSVA: TORAH ORDINANCE IN THIS PARASHA
CONTAINS 4 POSITIVE MITSVOT AND 3 PROHIBITONS
- 98.Exodus 27:20 Prepare the luminaires of the Menorah (chandelier)
- 99.Exodus 27:41 The Kohanim (priests) must have special garments
- 100.Exodus 28:28 The pectoral (Choshen) should not be separated from the apron (Efod)
- 101.Exodus 28:32 Do not tear the apron (Efod)
- 102.Exodus 29:33 To eat the flesh of the offering of atonement (Chatat) and the offering of guilt (Asham)
- 103.Exodus 30:7 Burning incense
- 104.Exodus 30:9 Do not burn incense or offer sacrifices at the Golden Altar (Mizbeach Hazahav)
