EXODUS XXVII:20-XXX:10

THE MISHKAN OF MOSHE AND ILAN RAMON’S SHIP

Moshe’s (Moses’) name  is absent in these chapters, for severalreasons. In fact, the name of Moshe is absent from other weekly readings, such as Ekev, Re’e, Shoftim, Ki Tavo. The absence of Moshe’s name  is due to the separation of the readings made by the Babylonian Ḥakhamim, who divided the text of the Torahinto 54 sections to be read weekly. 

In ancient Israel it was customary to complete the Torahreading  in 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 the name of Moshe repeated numerous times in a few verses, while in our case it does not appear even once. The possible reason is that all the instructions in our text refer exclusively to the function of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), its structure and basic elements, with special emphasis on sacrifices.

The Mishkan was designed to receive the heavenly God on earth. The Columbia spacecraft, like the other shuttles, projects man into the heavens, defying Tehillim’s (Psalms) warning, included in Hallel: Hashamayim shamayim laShem veha’aretznatan livenei adam, “the heavens, the heavens are HaShem’sand the earth gave it to the descendants of man.”

This time the audacity of man was punished, and the Columbia tragedy presents us with numerous existential questions. The irony was greater because it was the first time that an Israeli, a Jew, had been chosen to be part of a space crew and, although he was not a punctual observer of the ritual, Ilan Ramon recited the Shabbat Kiddush, insisted on kosher food, and was accompanied by a Torah. 

The Torah from whose text we read the rules of the earthlyMishkan. 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 does not have wings, man learned to fly and, although his usual terrain is the earth, his projection and dream is the sky.

Ramon and his companions perished in this great adventure, but Humanity will continue with space exploration, despite the tragedy, because it is not a challenge to the absolute sovereignty of the Creator, rather it is about the courage of the human being to fulfill the divine mandate “La’asot“, which God pronounced at the end of creation:  There is much to be done to complete and decipher the universe.

MITZVAH: ORDINANCE OF THE TORAH IN THIS PARSHA

CONTAINS 4  POSITIVE MITZVOT AND 3 PROHIBITIONS

98. Exodus 27:20 Prepare the Menorah Lampstands  

Exodus 27:41 The Kohanim (priests) owe special garments

Exodus 28:28 The breastplate (Ḥoshen) must not be separated from the apron (Ephod) 

99. Exodus 28:32 Do not tear the apron (Ephod)

Exodus 29:33 Eating the flesh of the sin offering (Ḥatat) andthe guilt offering (Asham)

Exodus 30:7 Burn the incense

Exodus 30:9 Do not burn incense or offer sacrifices on the Golden Altar (Mizbe’aḥ

Hazahav)