Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Pekudey פקודי – Pillar of Fire

The Book of Exodus ends with the final erection of the Tabernacle. The construction of the Temple covers about four and a half of eleven parshas of this book of the Torah. It concludes with the cloud of Hashem covering the Mishkan and His glory filling it. The Chumash continues that Moshe was not able to enter the Temple because of the cloud and the glory of G-d (see Exodus 40:34-5).

This is similar to the dedication of Temple built by King Solomon described in the standard haphtarah of this parsha. The concluding act is the placement of the Ark of the Covenant in its place by the cohanim. When the priests leave the sanctuary it becomes covered with the cloud of Hashem and they are not able to reenter because the glory of Hashem fills the House of Hashem (see 1 Kings 7:6 – 12). Shlomo Hamelech explains that Hashem said that he will dwell in a thick haze (ערפל).  

Likewise a thick cloud covers Mount Sinai just before the Ten Commandments are given (see Shmos 19:16). After this revelation Moshe enters into the haze (ערפל) where G-d is to be found (see Shmos 20:18). In an extreme example of this darkness Aharon the High Priest is cautioned against entering into the Holy of Holies lest he die because Hashem appears in a cloud above the cover the of the Ark of the Covenant.

On the other hand there are vivid accounts of visions of Hashem. With the giving of the Ten Commandments the people hear the voice of Hashem. A blood covenant follows in which Moshe, Aharon and his sons, and the seventy elders of the nation and see the G-d of Israel as if it is through the prism of a sapphire (see Shmos 24:9-11). In addition when Moshe ascends the mountain the glory of G-d appears like a consuming fire on its summit. There also are the visions of G-d on His throne with the heavenly court in attendance that were seen by Isaiah (chapter 6) and Ezekiel (chapter 1).

The Ramban explains that the glory of G-d is covered and concealed in the cloud and haze. In a similar theme the Kli Yakar explains that if not for the cloud it would be impossible to view the glory of G-d because it is a consuming fire. The prophet Yishiyahu adds a moral dimension, when after seeing visions of the Throne of Glory, cries out in fear that he is a man of unclean lips living among a nation of unclean lips. With that an angel touches his lips with a burning coal and says that his sins have left and his mistakes have been atoned for.

Psalm 97 describes a confrontation with Hashem. Cloud and haze surround Him and, righteousness and principle are the foundations of His throne. Fire goes out before Him and flame engulfs His antagonists. Mountains melt like wax before the Master of the Universe. Humiliated will be those that serve the illegitimate and take pride in illusions of power.

It is through this that we begin to understand the difficulties in approaching truth. So to speak we are kept in the dark because there are aspects of our personal life and national life that are not good. Approaching Hashem can mean acceptance of ideas and practices that initially we may not find pleasing. In exploring religion there is often a subtle recognition that dearly held positions may easily melt upon examination.


On the other hand some precepts and practices may be intimidating in their beauty. This may cause some to fear that they will be seduced into a direction they do not wish to go. To make matters worse there are truths that can destroy. For these reasons a person must be honest and level headed to ascend in holiness. There are some precepts and practices that are easy and can be accepted immediately. There are others that should only be viewed as distant stars even though they are very beautiful. There are still others that should be held in abeyance and investigated. In the end wise student will see that G-d protects the souls of those devoted to Him, that light is sown for the righteous, and to the straight of heart there is joy.



לע"נ, האמה ,מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע ט"ז ניסן תשנ"ח

Acknowledgements to websites: תורת אמת, וויקיטקסט, http://dictionary.reference.com/, http://hebrewbooks.org/,


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