Torah Tidbit
Parashah Terumah (portion), Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
God commands Moses and Israel to build a tabernacle, describing the furnishings, structure and surrounding courtyard.
You shall make two Cherubim of gold – hammered out shall you make them – from both ends of the Cover…..The Cherubim shall be with wings spread upward sheltering the Cover with their wings with their faces toward one another; toward the Cover shall be the faces of the Cherubim.. – Exodus 25:18, 20
Walking the Walk
Cheribum show up several times in the Bible – guarding and preserving (but not blocking) the way to the tree of life; “bearing” God as He swoops in to help David (Psalms); standing guard outside of the holy of holies in the first temple (I Kings); and Tyre’s cherub-like protecting of Israel (Ezeikel). On the ark of the covenant they act as both protectors of the tablets that testify of God’s commandments and “bearers” of God’s glory.
These cherubim present an unmistakable lesson for Israel. The more Israel draws together to guard (through both study and implementation) God’s ways of living, the more Israel becomes “bearers” of God’s glory in this world.
Similarly God has given the Noahides a set of commandments – expressions of how He wants us to act and live in this world – to guard and in so doing, carry with us some of His presence. Prayer and action are part of how we learn from Him, while these statements of His expectations draw boundaries and yet open up vast fields of opportunity for new ways of truly living full lives in this topsy turvy world. As we continuously cycle through the three principles of talking to Him, studying His ways and then acting upon these principles, we bear more of His light and life within and around ourselves.
This mission remains the same regardless of the upheavals of society and government around us. Yes, these are trying times, but we have yet to endure anything close to what Israel has continuously endured through the ages – rises and falls of empires, pogroms, ghettos, burnings, exiles, inquisitions. Yet here they are today, a dedicated remnant still vibrant, still ever fresh, ever renewing themselves and working towards a closer walk with Him. Thank God that He has placed us in this place and time, to seize the opportunities to help bear His presence in this world.
From the Sages
Shimon the Righteous was among the survivors of the Great Assembly (last of prophets at start of second temple). He used to say: The world depends on three things – on Torah study, on the service (temple services and prayer) and on kind deeds. – Ethics of the Fathers