Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 6 Adar 1, 5784
Parsha Terumah: (Exodus 25:1 – 27:19)
Fifth Portion: Exodus 26:31 – 26:37

Today’s portion is super short. Yesterday we put together the outer parts of the tabernacle. Today, we are dividing it up. Let’s dig in:

31And you shall make a dividing curtain of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen; the work of a master weaver he shall make it, in a [woven] cherubim design.

32And you shall place it on four pillars of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, their hooks [shall be] gold, on four silver sockets.

33And you shall place the dividing curtain beneath the clasps. You shall bring there on the inner side of the dividing curtain the Ark of the Testimony, and the dividing curtain shall separate for you between the Holy and the Holy of Holies.

So I think we are seeing the formation of the heart here.  The “Holy of Holies.” There is holy- but there is now holy of holies. This would seem to be the heart, and we are to protect it.  Because the Torah now tells us what to put in here:

34And you shall place the ark cover over the Ark of the Testimony in the Holy of Holies.

35And you shall place the table on the outer side of the dividing curtain and the menorah opposite the table, on the southern side of the Mishkan, and you shall place the table on the northern side.

As we discussed the sefirot – the 7 sefirot are in the holy of holies. The Table – with the three (Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge) is right outside the Holy of Holies. It’s the way to enter.

36And you shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen the work of an embroiderer.

37You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia and overlay them with gold, their hooks [shall be] gold, and you shall cast for them five copper sockets.

Remember – when we constructed the tabernacle, one side was open.  There is a door to the tent. Five pillars of wood.  Could these connect to our five senses? Sight, Sound, Taste, Touch, Smell? These are the pathways into our bodies?

This is what I am reflecting on. How much do we ignore the senses, and focus on the mind?

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 2 Adar, 5783

Good morning! This morning I’m reflecting on what I wrote a year ago about Terumah:

“The word terumah has two meanings; in the plain sense it means a contribution to a sacred cause. In a deeper sense, terumah means “elevation.” Both meanings go hand in hand.

And I think Terumah starts within. Am I working to elevate myself and contribute to my own personal “sacred cause” within me? I believe all of us are sacred. As we are created by the most sacred of creators. So the self care, self work, self compassion, self empathy is all designed to elevate us and contribute towards our personal sacred journey.

And. We are ALSO designed to co-create relationships that are meant to elevate one another, and to contribute to others’ sacred cause.

How are we doing this for ourselves today? How are we working towards elevating and impacting others’ sacred cause? At work? With our families? With our friends?

That’s my reflection today.

And. I’m now reflecting on how the year 5783 has been more daily “Torah feels” than “Torah thoughts.” And that makes me smile. Because I think a year ago I spent a lot of time thinking about Torah. This year, I’m feeling Torah much more. I can see that in my writing.

Welcome to my heart. My hope is these writing are elevating you as much as they are me.

Please consider contributing to Chabad at the link in my original post. They are a worthy sacred cause, and Meir Rubashkin has done a lot to contribute to my sacred cause.

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Adar I 2, 5782

Todays Torah portion is fairly short. We are in the middle of putting together the tabernacle.

Before we dig in, there is a thought from the Torah version im reading that speaks to the name of this week’s Parsha, “Terumah:”

“The word terumah has two meanings; in the plain sense it means a contribution to a sacred cause. In a deeper sense, terumah means “elevation.” Both meanings go hand in hand.

By making a contribution to a sacred cause you elevate the money from its material state to a higher spiritual plain. You also elevate your whole being including all the energy and effort that went into earning the money which you donated.”

That’s an interesting way of looking at donations.

BTW; if you want to contribute to a sacred cause; I strongly encourage you to give to Chanad, as they have contributed and elevating my learning over the years to bring me to a place to share with all of you:

https://www.chabadofoneonta.com/…/Make-an-Impact.htm

So, let’s dig in:

Todays portion covers the partition in the tabernacle. Like the roof, it needed animal designs professionally woven into it. This was to create the “holy of Holies” inside the tabernacle.

Then Hashem discussed about where the Ark should go- behind the partition.

Next we are to put the lid over the ark.

Then put the table outside the holy of holies and the candelabrum on the opposite side of the table. The table was on the north and the candle was on the south side. To enter into the Holy of Holies you would pass between the table and the candelabrum. I’m chewing on the significance of that.

Finally Hashem tells us to build a curtain for the entrance to the tent.

I’m really reflecting on what this means for me internally; where is the ark inside of me? Where is my holy of Holies. Do I keep this place guarded and safe? Or do I rip the curtain down; or build a brick wall? The idea of a curtain to protect the holy of Holies is both a picture of boundaries AND fragility/vulnerability. I think that is something I’m learning to navigate.