Terumah
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken
"And you will make an Ark of acacia wood, two and one-half cubits long, one
and one-half cubits wide, and one and one-half cubits tall." [25:10]
The Pnei Yosef points out that this command, "you will make an Ark," is
delivered using the plural form of "you." With all the other vessels, we
see the singular form -- "you will make a cover" [25:17], "you will make
two cherubs" [25:18], "you will make a table" [25:23], "you will make a
Menorah of pure gold" [25:31], etc. All of these are given in the singular
form, whereas the command to make the Ark is given in the plural. Why is
the Ark the exception to the rule?
In Koheles (Ecclesiastes) 9:11, King Solomon says that he learned "bread
does not come to the wise." In the Chapters of the Fathers, it says both
that "if there is no flour, there is no Torah" [3:17], and that "one who
increases his business does not become wise." [2:6] Acquiring the wisdom of
Torah and doing good business are [usually] contradictory. You have those
who do well in one area, and those who do well in the other, and without
both types Torah could not flourish.
What works is the Yissocher-Zevulun model. Our tradition teaches that the
descendants of Yaakov's son Yissocher sat and learned Torah, while the
descendants of Zevulun became successful merchants. The tribe of Zevulun
supported the tribe of Yissocher, and thus both shared in the merit of
Torah learning.
After eating many types of foods, Jewish law indicates that one should make
a blessing to G-d "who created many souls and their needs" -- because, says
the Pnei Yosef, every soul lacks different things. This one may lack
income, while this one lacks Torah. And the purpose of all Creation is "to
enliven with it every living being" -- when two work in partnership, both
flourish.
The Medrash says that the Ark represents the Torah, which was placed inside
it. It is appropriate, then, that the Torah says "you will make an Ark" in
the plural form -- to hint that in order to have Torah, one needs a
partnership!
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Yaakov Menken
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