בס”ד
By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron
Painting by: Baruch Nachshon z”l
This parsha discusses the sacrifices offered in the Temple. This painting exhibits the Temple with a verse that also hints to one of the internal meanings of the Temple: “Hashem shall bless you from Zion (Jerusalem/Temple), the Maker of Heaven and Earth.” This verse suggests that the Zion/the Temple connects “Heaven and Earth,” which is indeed just that. This matter explains why our Sages said that one who has “knowledge” – “da’at,” it is considered as if the Temple was built in his lifetime. “Da’at” in Hebrew means connection as this term is used in the context of Adam and Eve’s unison. Thus, through a knowledge of unison, i.e a depth of knowledge in a way that it is internalized and “connected” to one’s being, one is ultimately connected to the spirit of the Temple, of “connection,” which represents the unity and connection of the Divine with the Earthly, “Heaven and Earth.”
According to the Arizal the word Zion can refer to two cities, Jerusalem or Hebron, two focal points of the Holy Presence. Indeed, the three Hasidim and the three-pronged “shin” painted here may hint to the three Patriarchs of Hebron. Our Sages teach that in the Temple the custom was to ask “ad shebeHebron”, i.e if “the dawn has reached Hebron,” in order to mention the merit of the Patriarchs before beginning the Service. We may also interpret the term “ad shebeHebron” to hint to the eternal nature of Hebron, as the word “ad” can also mean forever. This is Hebron, the most ancient Jewish settlement in the Holy Land and the burial site of Adam and ou Patriarchs, representing the eternal love of Hashem for Israel flowing through the “kindness of the Patriarchs.”