Parshas Teruma: Conventionality and Structure (5760)

Parshas Teruma: Conventionality and Structure (5760)
By Mordechai Dolinsky

This is the Parsha of instructions of the construction of the Mishkan. Despite the fact that it is dry and technical it is surprisingly full of rich, meaningful and inspirational lessons. For example, all the major artifacts, the ‘Aron HaKodesh’, the ‘Shulchan’, and both Altars had staves (Badim) which were used for transportation purposes. In camp it was permissible to remove the Badim with the exception of the Aron. The Aron obviously represents the center of our existence. Its location was in the Koshei Kodshim and contained the Torah. The Badim, which represent mobility, must always be in the Aron. Our mentality must always be ready to move. This is in the literal sense, not to be locked in, tied down, to a geographical location. Also in a figurative sense, always to be open-minded, to be attuned to the fact that our way of thinking may need fine-tuning.

There is another lesson which I think is perhaps is the most important and obvious, but not noticed. We are living in a period of history that the world at large has been taken over by a mentality of unconventionality. A major outbreak of this was initiated in the ‘60’s by the hippie movement; when the walls came tumbling down. The walls of manners, decency, healthy regimentation, table manners, rules of decency in dress, body care, and personal cleanliness. Does anybody remember being taught table etiquette? “So and so strong and able, take your elbows off the table”. In the Yeshiva school system we were punished if we failed to show up with a tie. Teachers even in the secular schools had to don a jacket and tie. All this formality and laws of decency are not just trivial superficialities but have a profound affect upon us.

In contrast, today, when one needs expert medical advice, the professor, the top doctor, the department head, will appear with his dungarees, pony tail, earrings and all. One can experience the decrepit scene of individuals sitting on the floor under the banner of supposedly “connecting with the Creator” in filth and under the influence of “who knows what”, strumming a guitar in song.

The construction of the Mishkan was the making of a mechanism to achieve a closeness with Hashem. Besides the holiness it was all feet and inches, meters and centimeters, exact lines and angles, specific materials, special colors and a very specific way of construction. The smallest deviation will prevent the union with the Shechina. Our Tefilin must have the exact specifications or they won’t connect us with HaShem.

All this relays a very clear message of the importance of structure. May HaShem help us to see through the recklessness of our society, and give us the insight and strength to make the necessary conventionalities and structure.