The Forgotten Souls

TheYeshiva.net ^ | 3/16/2009 | Rabbi Joseph Jacobson

[Phinneous]

This is a Torah class (in English interspersed with translated Hebrew verses from Torah) about one particular detail of the building of the Tabernacle, found in Exodus 38:21-29. The Torah mentions "vavin" (hooked nails that resembled the Hebrew letter 'vav.')

Jews-- it's fascinating. If you haven't listened to a Torah shiur give it a try.

The overall lesson of the class is that every Jew is a part of the Torah (spoiler--the "vavin," which are technically outside the boundary of the Tabernacle since they were pointed outward from the outermost poles, and the outer walls were hung on these hooks. (there are pictures in most Chumashim (Bibles in Hebrew.)

Anyway--it's awesome. Give it a try. It's a symphony of different teachings woven into a profound lesson--and as usual it derives from one tiny nuance in the verse in Hebrew, undetectable in anything but the original language.

If you don't enjoy this class, find one you do! Every Jew should find his or her part of Torah.

Note: Rabbi Jacobson is terrific, but is quaintly plagued with pronunciation challenges--- so when he says "sackets" he means "sockets," the silver bases of the walls of the Tabernacles...

ENJOY!

[Defiant]

I passed a Tabernacle the other day, and it occurred to me: I have no idea what a Tabernacle is. I know of lots of Tabernacles but what is the distinction between one and a church?

[Phinneous]

‘Tabernacle’ is just the common translation of the Hebrew word, ‘MISHKAN,’ which was a portable sanctuary, though more profoundly means, ‘the place of dwelling [...of G-d.]’

So when a church calls itself a ‘Tabernacle,’ or the choir in Salt Lake City calls itself a Tabernacle Choir... I have no idea what they consider the difference.