Page 267 - 24107

24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Cyan
24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Black
#24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Yellow
24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Magenta
#
#24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Yellow 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Magenta 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Cyan 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 9 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Black
#
Orchard of Delights Terumah
a meeting place between God and man. Their physical structure and about the Temple offerings) are placed at the very beginning of the
the service performed in them were ultimately meant to symbolize prayers.
the sanctuary to be built within each human being’s body, heart, The role that song and music played in the Temple is reflected by
mind, and soul. When this is accomplished, the purpose of creation the Pesukei Dezimrah (Verses of Song, mostly taken from Psalms)
will be fulfilled.
recited after the Korbanot in the Morning Service. The Levites
Having linked God’s purpose for creating the world and the trained extensively until the age of thirty to prepare themselves for
Tabernacle, the presence of light in both is instructive. Just as light the awesome responsibility of performing in the Temple. The greatest
was the first entity explicitly created, God’s first instruction to Moses choir and orchestra ever assembled in the history of the world sang
in this portion is to command the people to take “pure, pressed olive and played at the Temple on a daily basis. For the multitudes, who
oil” to light the menorah daily. The menorah’s light symbolizes came to the Temple charged with emotion and high expectations,
God’s light shining within the material, physical world. Just as the music was an integral part of their spiritual experience.
God illuminates and sustains the lower worlds with His light, so too One of the highlights of the Temple service was the recitation of
humanity must constantly spread light throughout the world.
the Priestly Blessing in which God’s four-letter name was actually
The key ingredient to revealing light is passion. In the above reason pronounced as written, an event that only took place in the Temple.
given for God creating the world, the Hebrew word denoting passion, As part of the Amidah, the cohanim in Israel still bless the people
“ta’avah,” is used. This word often has negative connotations, as it daily (albeit without pronouncing God’s four-letter name as written),
is associated with baser desires; however, it also possesses positive while in the Diaspora the cohanim only recite this special blessing
connotations: enthusiasm, whole-hearted commitment, and love of during the Musaf Amidah on certain holidays.
life. Passion is a burning fire, which when directed properly creates In the Temple, the Levites recited a particular psalm for each
spiritual light. God had a passion, as it were, to dwell in the lower day of the week. At the end of the Morning Service each day, we
worlds. Man must imitate this passion for life by pursuing goodness too recite the psalm for the day and mention that the Levites sang
and creating a fitting place for God in the world as well as within the this particular psalm on this day of the week in the Temple. The
deepest recesses of the soul. sin and guilt offerings, which were offered as part of an individual’s
repentance process for certain sins, are mirrored by our almost daily
recitation of Tachanun (Prayers of Supplication). The thanksgiving
offering brought in the Temple by those who wished to express their
££The Anointed One appreciation to God is mirrored by the Mizmor Letodah (Psalm of
£The Anointed OneThe Anointed One
Thanksgiving) recited every day, except for Shabbat and holidays.
That the Sages were able to translate and transform the Temple
The olive oil used in the menorah in the Tabernacle is described as model into the synagogue experience of today is a testimony to
“pure olive oil, beaten to give light” (Exodus 27:20). Olive oil was not their genius and their contribution to Jewish continuity. We need
only used in the menorah but also in consecrating the vessels of the a renewed commitment to understanding the deep meaning of the
Tabernacle. Olive oil was also used to sanctify the cohanim as they Tabernacle and its service, in order to enrich our Jewish experience
were initiated into service in the Tabernacle (a process described at today, making it relevant and meaningful to one and all.
the end of this portion, Exodus 29:1-37). Additionally, olive oil was

278 267