Page 31 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

Rebuilding Sisterly

Beams, Wings and

Curtains of Friendship Rabbanit

Shani Taragin

s we approach Tisha B’Av all the boards of the Mishkan” (26:17). of uncompromising tzniut. Without
once again, it is difficult Repeatedly, the curtains and beams criticizing the other, we should be con-
to absolve ourselves of are described as sisters, connected and fident in our paths of Avodat Hashem
A the rabbis’ painful admo- intertwined with one another! and bond through a mutual respect for
nition: “Any generation in which the This same expression – “a woman proper adherence to halachah.”
Temple is not rebuilt, it is considered bound up with her sister” – appears Brotherly love is essential for rebuild-
as if they themselves destroyed it” only one other time in Tanach, refer-
(Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1). Individually ring to Yechezkel’s vision of the celes- ing a society of achva (achach–va), of true
brotherhood, in which each of the ker-
and as a nation, we must internal-
ize the lessons of the destruction tial angels surrounding Hashem: uvim may once again face “his brother”
and proactively begin the process of “Their wings were joined one to her and allow for Divine revelation and
repentance and rebuilding. Rav Kook sister” (Yechezkel 1:9). Yechezkel later communication. But when the Mishkan
famously called upon Am Yisrael to realizes that these angels are in fact is actually constructed, the curtains
practice ahavat chinam, baseless love, the very same keruvim which represent and beams of sisterly love precede the
as a means of repairing sinat chinam, the presence of the Shechinah in our construction of the vessels and the
the baseless hatred which led to the midst (10:20). The keruvim that were keruvim. Before a face-to-face “broth-
destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. But described in Shemot as “facing his erhood” relationship with Hashem is
there is also a lesser known path to brother” are described in Yechezkel restored, we must first create a sister-
rebuilding the Mikdash, a path hinted as being connected like sisters! hood of respect.
to in the instructions for building the These expressions highlight the Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi teaches
original sanctuary detailed in Parashat unique relationships necessary for that the word yeriot, curtains, is
Terumah. the construction and maintenance homiletically connected to the word
When describing the various vessels of Hashem’s presence, the figurative reut – the word for female friendship!
and components of the Mishkan, the links and literal bonds of unity which Female friendship is the foundation
term panim, “face”, is used several create a “face-to-face” meeting with of the Mishkan and, together with the
times, most remarkably in the context G-d. With these evocative expressions, “sisterly” wings of the celestial chariot,
of the keruvim: “And the keruvim shall the Torah is saying that the uniquely provides protection and unity for our
spread out their wings on high, screen- close bonds formed by sisters are people. Though we may have different
ing the ark-cover with their wings, essential to building a relationship “flight patterns”, as religiously-obser-
with their faces one to his brother…” with Hashem and rebuilding the Beit vant women we must intertwine our
(Shemot 25:20). The panim also appear HaMikdash! wings in order to fly and rebuild our
in the context of the showbreads and The curtain and beams of the Mishkan Father’s chariot here on Earth!
the menorah, and are thrice mentioned are compared to sisters, for sisters
in the description of the incense altar, share so much in common – monthly
underscoring the significance of the and life cycles, challenges of fertility,
intimate face-to-face relationship we pregnancy, nursing, child-rearing and
are meant to create with Hashem. relationships. When I recently spoke
Another atypical expression is used with renowned speaker and author
when describing the curtains and Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller-Gottlieb,
beams of the Mishkan: “Five curtains she shared a powerful insight. “Reli-
shall be coupled together, each one gious women in different communi-
to her sister; and the other five cur- ties should learn from one another. A member of
tains shall be coupled, each one to From the Religious Zionist commu- the Mizrachi
her sister” (26:3). “Two tenons shall nity we may learn the value of love Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational Speakers Bureau
there be in each board, each joined for Eretz Yisrael, and from the Charedi Director of Mizrachi and the Director of the mizrachi.org/
to her sister; thus shall you make for community we may learn the value Mizrachi-TVA Lapidot Educators’ Program. speakers

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