Pekudim: The Blessing of Faith

In parshas Pekudim the mishkan is erected and put into operation. When all of its components are completed, they are brought to Moshe. On seeing them Moshe blesses the people. When Moshe sets up the tabernacle the cloud of Hashem rests on the ohel moed and His glory fills it. With this G-d begins to permanently dwell among the children of Israel in dignity. The Midrash Rabba brings a metaphor of the wedding day in Shir Hashirim, “Daughters of Zion go out and see King Solomon wearing the crown that his mother crowned him with on his wedding day and on the day of his happiness of heart.” King Solomon is the English rendition of המלך שלמה. Solomon, שלמה, is a variant of שלום or peace, meaning the king to which peace belongs or Hashem.


The temple is a shrine for prayer and thanksgiving. It is specifically a shrine to the name Havaya, the name which expresses G-d’s benevolence. Having it in the midst of the Jewish people, symbolizes G-d’s closeness to His people when they call out to him in truth. The central object in the mishkan is the ark holding the Ten Commandment covered by two angels above which G-d talks to the prophet. The word for G-d, אלוקים, is an expression of power. The idea being expressed is that adherence to the faith, a clear conscience, and harmony with the world will bring a Jew other types of well being as well.
The phrase that the children of Israel did everything that Hashem had commanded them is repeated three times in connection with the mishkan. The commentaries state that it is a hint the Jewish people should serve G-d in thought, speech, and deed. When the cloud of Hashem covers the ohel moed and His glory fills it is an allusion to the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai when there was a cloud surrounding the fire of G-d. The idea is that the Temple should always kindle within us the fire of faith and we should merit the blessing of Moshe rabenu, “May the pleasantness of the Lord our G-d be upon us, and the work of our hands should be established on us, and may the works of hand, let it be established (Psalm 90:17)”.