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Dear Mogen David Family,

Our Parasha, the last in Sefer Shemot, continues the discussion and description of the Mishkan. It begins: "Eleh Pekudei HaMishkan, Mishkan Ha-Edut..."--These are the statutes of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of Testimony. The Midrash Tanchuma, quoted by Rashi, notices the repetition of the word 'Mishkan' and interprets this as alluding to the destruction of the two Batei Mikdash.

Furthermore, the word 'Mashkon' in halacha means a collateral. The destruction of the Beit HaMikdash was offered to Hashem as a collateral in place of HaKadosh Baruch Hu destroying Am Yisrael during the periods of the First and Second Temples.

One may ask why the Midrash feels compelled to mention the Churban HaBayit at this celebratory occasion of the construction of the Mishkan. After the catastrophe of the Chet Ha-Egel it seems wise to move forward and focus on the positive, without a symbolic gesture to future calamity. We encounter this motif in a number of other instances in the Torah. When Yakov first meets Rachel he cries a primal scream ("VaYissa et Kolo VaYevch"). One explanation offered by the Midrash is that Yakov is crying over the future destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. When Yosef HaTzaddik reunites with his younger brother Binyamin after many years, he also cries--according to the Midrash--over the future destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, part of which will be in the chelek of Shevet Binyamin.

What message can we learn?

Judaism is a realistic religion given to human beings ("Lo Nitna Torah L'Malachei HaSharet"). Humans don't only experience a life of pure joy, or a life of pure sadness; we accept Malchut and Gezeirat Shamayim for both good and bad--'K'shem Shemevarech al HaTov kach Mevarech al HaRa.' Many otherwise sincere people try to quick-fix their unhappiness and feelings of meaninglessness through pop Kabbala or other Eastern Mysticism.

This is not the way of the Torah.

We don't believe in building illusions to cure real problems. Genuine happiness, and sadness, are part of our Torah culture and observance. The Beit Hamikdash will not be rebuilt shtick or have-measured attempts. Only when we accept the good and the end, the realization of Iyov, "Hashem Nattan V'Hashem Lakach," will we begin to be ready for Binyan Beit HaMikdash speedily in our times.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yehuda Moses Rav HaKehillah/Senior Rabbi