 There were 13 donation boxes in the Beis hamikdash. Each box was designated for a specific collection, including; the annual half Shekel donations that were used to purchase the communal sacrifices, donations to purchase frankincense or wood for the Mizbeach, purchasing specific types of sacrifices, and general donations for the Temple upkeep.
The Mishna calls these boxes “Shofars”, because they were constructed like the shape of a Shofar. Just as a Shofar is narrow at the “mouthpiece” and becomes wider at the other end, these boxes were narrow at the top where the coins were inserted, and wider at the bottom. The reason for this was to make it difficult for someone to take money out of the box. But there is also a deeper message for us about the power of Tzedaka. The mystics associate the shape of the Shofar with the verse “from the narrowness I call out to You Hashem, answer me with expansiveness Hashem”. This verse is read before the blowing of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana. Blowing the Shofar from the narrow end represents our humility. When blown with this humility, Hashem answers us in an expansive measure. The same is true with Tzedaka. When we give Tzedaka, it might be with a small or "narrow" act or amount. But when given with sincerity and humility, this small act generates expansive blessings from Above. It also becomes magnified as the kindness is paid-forward. 13 is the numerical value of Echad, meaning one. Tzedaka creates oneness and unity amongst the Jewish people and it connects us with the oneness of Hashem. ************************* The Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought is an initiative of the MAOR Centre, Melbourne. Invite your friends and family to subscribe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpJdBpFrhNRDsyqhdxM4SH Find all posts and more Torah content at www.maor.com.au
0 Comments
In yesterday’s Parsha we read about two types of sacrifice; the daily Tamid offering and the additional Musaf offerings brought on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov.
For the Tamid, two lambs were offered each day; one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Depending on which day was being celebrated, the Musaf offerings varied in the number and type of animals – which included oxen, rams and lambs. The Musaf offerings may have been more “substantial”, but they could only be brought after the morning Tamid had been completed. This is based on a Talmudic principle that precedence is given to a Mitzvah that is more frequent. In this case, the Tamid was brought every single day of the year whereas the Musaf was only brought on specific special days. The fact that the Musaf was limited to days of specific holiness and was subject to change, actually represents a limitation. The consistency of the Tamid, no matter what day of the year it was, represents something unchanging that is not subject to the constraints of time. As such, the Tamid is more intimately connected to Hashem who, in the words of the prophet, says “I am Hashem Who is unchanging.” Human nature is to get excited about the novel whereas that which is constant becomes routine and boring. Do we have the same excitement and devotion for our daily Davening as we do for Shabbos or the Yomim Tovim with their once-a-year Mitzvos? The message of the order of the Tamid and the Musaf is that whilst the novel brings us heightened excitement and may appear more “substantial”, it is the simple day-in day-out Mitzvos with unchanging dedication, that connect us most deeply in emulating Hashem. ~ Based on Likutei Sichos Vol 28 ************************* The *Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought* is an initiative of the MAOR Centre, Melbourne. Invite your friends and family to subscribe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpJdBpFrhNRDsyqhdxM4SH One of the vessels that stood inside the Kodesh was the Shulchan (table). Each Shabbos, the Kohanim would place twelve Lechem Hapanim loaves on the Shulchan. These loaves were baked on Friday and left in the Ulam overnight. On Shabbos, they were brought into the Kodesh and placed on the Shulchan as the loaves from the past Shabbos were removed.
The old loaves, which miraculously stayed fresh, were distributed and eaten by the Kohanim. Our sages teach that the Lechem Hapanim was blessed with an additional miracle, so that a Kohen only had to eat a piece the size of a bean, and they would become completely satisfied. Unlike the sacrifices which were offered every day of the year, the Lechem Hapanim was unique to Shabbos. The sacrifices represent our interaction with the physicality of the world during the six days of the week. This is for the purpose of Birrurim, to refine and elevate the sparks of holiness that are trapped within the coarse materiality of the world. On Shabbos the worlds experience a spiritual elevation and no longer require refining. On Shabbos, our physical experiences themselves are intrinsically holy – the eating becomes a Mitzvah itself as we ‘delight’ in Shabbos. This is alluded to by the Lechem Hapanim. According to Kabbalah, the placing of the Lechem Hapanim on the Shulchan was the source of blessing for sustenance for the entire world. In the same way, Shabbos is the source of blessing for our Parnassa and material success in the week ahead. Even though our work hours are reduced, Shabbos brings a blessing that we will have ample prosperity to be completely satisfied. ************************* The *Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought* is an initiative of the MAOR Centre, Melbourne. Invite your friends and family to subscribe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpJdBpFrhNRDsyqhdxM4SH The Aron was covered with a solid gold lid called the Kapores. Two golden Keruvim angels with the faces of a young child, were shaped from the Kapores. They stood atop it, facing one another, with their wings spread over the Aron.
In the view of many commentators, the Kapores was not considered as part of the Aron, but rather a separate vessel in its own right. Whereas the Aron represents the Torah in its highest form and our connection to Hashem through Torah, the Kapores with its Keruvim reflects the essential love and connection of Hashem to the Jewish people. This love is analogous to the infinite and unconditional love of a parent to a child that can never be severed. The placement of the Kapores above the Aron and the Luchos inside of it, illustrates how Hashem’s essential love and connection to the Jewish people transcends the connection forged through Torah. The name Kapores is related to the word Kaper - atonement. Sometimes our connection to Hashem through Torah observance becomes weakened or lost. Here lies the power of Teshuvah. When we turn to Hashem like a child to their parent, our essential bond is revealed and He embraces us with His infinite and unconditional love, washing our sins away. ~ Based on Likutei Sichos volume 26 Terumah ************************* The *Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought* is an initiative of the MAOR Centre, Melbourne. Invite your friends and family to subscribe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpJdBpFrhNRDsyqhdxM4SH  The central point and holiest part of the Beis Hamikdash, was the Aron – the Holy Ark, that was placed in the Holy of Holies. The Aron contained the Luchos of the Ten Commandments and the original Torah scroll written by Moshe.
The Kabbalists teach that the Torah is the Wisdom of Hashem, and that He and His Wisdom are one. This is alluded to in the first word of the Ten Commandments, Anochi - “I”. Anochi is an acronym for; Ana Nafshi Kesavis Yehavis – “I Myself wrote and gave”. Chassidus reads this as saying “I have written and given Myself”, meaning that Hashem “wrote” His very Self into the Torah and that through the Torah we connect with His essence. The Ten Commandments were carved into the Luchos. Unlike written letters, where the ink and paper are separate entities, carved letters are completely one with the stone into which they are cut. This represents the complete unity of Hashem within the Torah. We connect to Hashem in this ultimate unity when we study and observe Torah not as something separate in our lives that we do, but as something bound to the very essence of who we are. Yet there is something even greater and more important than this highest level of Torah represented by the Aron. Join us tomorrow to discover what it is... ************************* The Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought is an initiative of the MAOR Centre, Melbourne. Invite your friends and family to subscribe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpJdBpFrhNRDsyqhdxM4SH  While in exile after the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash, Hashem told the prophet Yechezkel to teach the Jewish people the details of the design of the Beis Hamikdash. Yechezkel challenged Hashem, “how are they capable of making the Beis Hamikdash while they are in exile? First let them leave their exile and then I will tell them!”
Hashem responded “just because My children are in exile should the construction of My home be neglected?... Let them involve themselves in learning about the structure of the Beis Hamikdash, and I will consider it as though they are involved in building it.” The mystics and philosophers understood that the design of the Beis Hamikdash parallels the soul and contains within it lessons on how we are to serve Hashem, so that His presence can rest within us. The integrity of the physical structure of the Beis Hamikdash is dependent on the integrity of the spiritual Temple; the souls and service of the Jewish people. The Jewish people were in exile because their spiritual “temples” had been destroyed, resulting in the destruction of the physical Temple. Hashem instructed Yechezkel to teach the Jewish people the details of the Beis Hamikdash, so that they could reflect on the lessons hidden within its design and rebuild their inner temples, paving the way for the restoration of the physical structure as well. Over the next 3 weeks, the Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought will explore different parts of the Temple design and reveal their inner lesson for our personal spiritual lives and Divine service. ************************* The Daily Beis Hamikdash Thought is an initiative of the MAOR Centre, Melbourne. Invite your friends and family to subscribe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CpJdBpFrhNRDsyqhdxM4SH |