Although the garments that the kohanim wore are discussed in the Torah later on, the entire topic of the sanctuary (mishkan), its vessels and what they mean to us are under discussion in the parshah. It says, “Make Me a sanctuary so that I will dwell inside you” Rashi adds, “Making it for Me, means for the sake of My Name”.
This tells you that the vessels aren’t just vessels, they can “contain” Hashem’s presence, His Name within them. Hashem has many Names. One of them has two letters, a Yud and a Hai. Yud, equals 10 in gematria. It is written above the line, not on the line.
This symbolizes that there is a dimension of reality above what scientists call the “event horizon”, the place where our sense of reality finds a home- “the line”. The second letter of this Name is the letter Hai, which equals 5 in gematria. It stands firmly on the ground with its 2 “feet”. It has a “roof” it doesn’t ascend further up beyond visibility. It also has an opening on the bottom, since our reality is one in which people can fall to astonishing depths of depravity, and an opening on the side to allow those who have fallen to re-enter if they do tshuvah, which can only happen in this world.
The numerical value of the two letters together is 15, which non-coincidentally is the number of vessels in the mishkan. The mishkan was a place in which both realities; the reality of the Yud, the upper world, and Hai, this world, came together. The actual structures were like the body, and the divinity within them was the soul. Thus, the Mishkan was very much like we are; a combination of body and soul.
SHORT VORT, Rabbi Moshe Kormornick. Published by Adir Press. $9.99 in stores worldwide and online here
Whether you are looking for something meaningful on the Parsha, an uplifting thought for Yom Tov, or have been asked to speak at a Simcha – “Short Vort” is the book for you! With over 140 incredible short vorts packed with stories and valuable life messages, you will never be lost for something inspiring to say.
Rabbi Moshe Kormornick is a popular writer whose words are enjoyed by thousands of readers every week.
