בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
This parsha opens with a section that deals with Shabbat and then continues with a description of how the Mishkan was built with great detail and length. This painting has the Shabbat candlesticks as a primary feature along with the Beit Hamikdash. Indeed, our Sages said that “if you keep the candles of Shabbat I shall show you the candles of Zion”. In continuation of this theme we also see seven flying “angelic” candles in addition to the two large candles we already mentioned. Similarly, we see seven dancing hasidim together, and above them are two hasidim playing instruments. We may say that there is also a tenth candle and a tenth “hasid”. This is the Temple seen here, surrounded in flames, resembling a candle. The Holy Presence in the Temple can be seen as a tenth “Entity” so-to-speak, as our Sages said that the Holy Presence became a tenth “Entity” adjoining to the nine brothers in the sale of Yosef [since Reuven and Binyamin were absent].
The sphere above is apparently the moon since this painting is in a night setting. Nevertheless, this moon is glaring like the sun, apparently hinting to the verse talking about the Redemption “the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun” (Isaiah 30, 26). This indeed is the supernal light of the Temple and the Redemption. With that let us also remember that even in the Temple the light of dawn was indicated through Hebron, as they would ask “has the dawn even reached Hebron?” in order to arouse the merit of our Patriarchs before the Almighty. This may also teach that the dawn of the Temple and the Redemption also comes through the dawn of Hebron which is also a conduit to this Redemption through the merit of our Patriarchs.