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{Exodus 38:21 - 40:38 } This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Paul Sakash, may he rest in peace. In every organization there are those dear, wonderful, invisible, hardworking people that you never hear about. Without their constant, gracious efforts we would be lost. They do so much and yet receive so little credit. To them we are very grateful. Within the parsha this week, our attention is drawn to those who are not the planners of the Mishkon or the contractors or even the laborers. Yet, they are there. They are very important and their contribution is also important. Frequently we receive mail from dear readers with feelings of being left out because they are not Jewish. On one occasion a lady stated in her E-mail to me that even the gentiles are G-d's children and that G-d created them also. This is certainly true. The world we live in does have many members and many beliefs. At JewishPath we are not blind to our neighbors or their important contribution. Yet this is a Jewish "SIGHT" and the teachings here are Jewish. So one must try to understand this... Our focus is on what pertains to Kal Yisroel... The offerings given to build the Mishkon were requested of B'nei Yisroel, the Nation of the Covenant. These were offerings from people who were commanded to be "Shomar Shabbos." This means they guarded, they sanctified the Shabbos. They set aside Shabbos as commanded in the Torah. They did their work on the other six days. Now it was from these people that Hashem commanded Moshe to request the Terumah offering. What that meant was that G-d wanted the Mishkon, His future dwelling place, to be built from contributions by His people, B'nei Yisroel, who were separated from the rest of the world, living in the Bamidbar under His immediate direction. That does not imply that the rest of the world is not important. Yet, on the other hand, it does draw a very straight line. There is a difference between Jewish beliefs and beliefs of other religions. In Judaism we, the Jewish people, are commanded by G-d to follow the Torah. Many of us do but many do not. In the Torah, Gentiles are commanded by G-d to observe the Seven Noaich Commandments. Some observe these commands and other do not know they exist. Now if you're building a house, who do you want to build it? Do you want people who are observant to your commandments or people who don't know they exist? Do you want people who identify with your ideology or people who object? Do you want people who live Judaism second by second or people who are acquainted? The issue here is simple, G-d chose B'nei Yisroel to build his Mishkon. Originally G-d offered His Torah to the other sixty-nine nations of the world. They rejected His Torah. Only Kal Yisroel wholeheartedly accepted Hashem's Torah. So why would Hashem include nations that rejected Him in the building of his Mishkon? The fact is that often Jews feel somewhat left out, too. We are not the Levium who work in close contact with the Mishkon or the coming Bais Ha Mikdosh. We do not set it up or take it down. We do not work in the courtyards. Yet the fact is that even the Levium who have this close contact may also feel somewhat left out because the Kohanim are the ones who offer the blessings, light the Menorah and offer sacrifices. Yet the Kohanim could feel a little left out because only one of them can be the Kohen Godal, the High Priest. My dear readers, our responsibilities are different, our positions of service are different, but we all are important to Hashem. Listen, originally from the beginning, from Adam, the priesthood was the responsibility of the tribal heads. It was because of the failings by the tribal leaders of Kal Yisroel at the golden calf incident that Hashem separated the tribe of Levi unto Him and the house of Aharon as the Kohanim and Aharon himself as the Kohen Godal. The tribal leaders {the former priests} had feelings about this matter, yet they understood that the tribe of Levi and the house of Aharon stood out in their righteousness. On the other hand, there were some righteous malcontents, so to speak, in Parshas Korach {which occurs during the week of July 2-8} who were unhappy with Hashem's selections of Moshe and Aharon, et al. So what is the point to all of this? G-d has not left any of us out. We may feel left out but that is only our perception. We can connect to each other. We can connect to the Torah. We can connect to Hashem. Even though millions of names are not included in the building of the Mishkon, they are not left out. This being the situation, we do not read of anyone feeling left out during the building of the Mishkon. We do not read of contention. We do not hear of ego problems. B'nei Yisroel was focused on constructing the Mishkon built 100 percent right the first time around. There was a positive attitude that existed. Rabbi Eli Munk discusses the importance of everyone. He asks, "Why was a special accounting given for the silver hooks for the pillars {in Exodus 38:28}? Would not one total figure for all the silver used in the Tabernacle have sufficed? According to the Midrash, when Moses initially rendered his accounts to the people, he left out 1,775 shekels used in making the hooks for the pillars, for they were not visible. It was only after he became concerned that the Israelites might suspect him of wrongdoing about the accounts, that with Hashem's help he happened to look at the pillars and was reminded of the hooks. "This Midrash, explains Chasam Sofer, is referring to the fact that although the core of the nation of Israel comprised 600,000 righteous men, there were many worthy Israelites outside of this core, including women, children, and converts {over two and one half million}. Moses was concerned about how he would inspire holiness in those who did not belong to this nucleus {of 600,000}. Hashem then drew his attention to the deeper meaning of the hooks of the pillars, to show him that those who are not part of the core are to be hooked firmly onto the pillars, i.e., to the righteous, who form its inner core. "{Vaw Veem, meaning} hooks. The letter Vav appears twice in the word Vaw Veem, hooks, and is shaped like a hook; similarly, the letter vav often serves as a coordinating conjunction {connecting letter}, in which case it surely suggests the attachment of two different elements." The hooks signify "EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT." Those in the center of the core, those outside the core and those who are not Jewish. Everyone is important! Yet that does not mean everyone is the same. The hooks also symbolize a future time spoken of by the Novie Zechariah, "Thus said Hashem, Master of Legions: In those days it will happen that ten men, of all [different] languages of the nations, will take hold, they will take hold of the corner of the garment of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard G-d is with you.'" Zechariah 8:23 Non Jews will take hold of the tzitzis on the corner of a Jewish man's tallis. This teaches us that Jews will be clearly distinguished as Jews. Part of that distinguishing factor will be our tallis, our clothing... Non Jews will latch on... will hook on... will connect with the "RIGHTEOUS JEW." Many of us have a ways to go to reach that point.... The Gematria for Vaw Vem is 62. This is also
the Gematria of Bayn, meaning between. Bayn as in: Bayn as in: Bayn as in: So on one hand Bayn separates between light and dark and on the other hand Bayn connects between Hashem and B'nei Yisroel. The Gematria Mispar Godal of Vaw Veem is 622
which is the Gematria for Those connected to the righteous core received their blessing... and those connected to them received their blessing and those connected to them received their blessing.... {this connection is NOT through intermarriage} {From Right to Left} 622 = Mem = 600 + Yod = 10 + Vav = 6 + Vav = 6 Yod = 10 + Sav = 400 + Yod = 10 + Reish = 200 + Bais = 2 Sav = 400 + Chof = 20 + Reish = 200 + Bais = 2 The connection comes from Hashem. The direction of the progression of connection comes from Hashem on the right to the righteous leaders to the righteous followers to the world... Notice the movement from the Vav on the far right to the Mem on the left. This is Directional, right to left. The movement is from the six to the forty. Mem Yod Vav Vav 40-- 10-- 6- 6--
Wishing you the best, Dr. Akiva G. Belk JewishPath is a sponsor of B'nai Noach Torah Institute. As a sponsor we are permitted to offer one FREE E-Mail course on a limited basis per individual from BNTI's Introduction Courses. We invite you to visit and choose an E - Mail Intro Course. BNTI offers Intro Courses in Judaism and Spirituality {7 Noaich Laws}. BNTI Responses are NOT AUTO!!
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