The Mishkan at our Shabbos Table

In this week’s parshah, we learn about the construction of the Tabernacle that the Jews were commanded to build in the desert. Practically the entire parshah deals with every feature of the Tabernacle, down its most minute detail regarding how it was to be built. At first, God describes to Moshe how to construct the different vessels that were to be found inside the Tabernacle, and afterwards did He explain to Moshe the details of the outer structure itself, which would contain these vessels.

It is a well known concept in Jewish life that there exists a direct link between the Tabernacle and the day of Shabbos: Every single creative activity that was needed in order to construct the Tabernacle (e.g. tearing, dyeing, carrying etc.) is forbidden to us on Shabbos. All those laws pertaining to Shabbos; all those actions which we are commanded to abstain from on Shabbos, are rooted in the construction of the Tabernacle.

This intrinsic connection between the Tabernacle and the day of Shabbos can be highlighted further were we to take a closer look at the details of the Tabernacle. There were three vessels that were found inside the Tabernacle: The ark of testimony― referred to as “Kodesh Ha’kedoshim”―, the showbread table, and the menorah (candelabra). If one were to think about the very Shabbos table we eat and drink at every week, one would notice a manifestation of these three vessels present.

The lighting of the Shabbos candles parallel the lighting of the holy menorah (candelabra), the two loaves of bread parallel the loaves of bread that were placed on the showbread table, and KiDuSH (the recital over the cup of wine) parallels the “KoDeSH Ha’KeDoSHim” (note that “Kidush” and “Kodesh Ha’Kedoshim” share the same Hebrew root “KDSH”). One might even say that the meat we eat at the Shabbos table parallels the meat of the Shabbos sacrifice that was offered upon the altar in the sanctuary.

When observing the above-mentioned parallels to the three vessels, we come across a problem. Of the three vessels, only two seem to correspond to items at the Shabbos table! The similarities between the showbread table and the loaves of bread, and between the candelabra and the Shabbos candles are quite easy to understand. But how are we to explain the resemblance between the cup of wine (Kidush) and the ark of testimony (Kodesh Ha’kedoshim)? The only thing that seems to match up between them is the Hebrew root (KDSH) they share with eachother! What deeper connection can be drawn out between them?

Firstly, there is an obvious reason why the ark of testimony cannot be physically represented at the Shabbos table. The ark of testimony, as this week’s parshah describes, is covered by a golden statue of two winged cherubs facing one another. Having a physical manifestation of this in our house would be tantamount to idolatry! In fact, the Torah itself goes out of its way to prohibit us from building for ourselves a golden image that resembles that of the Tabernacle (Exodus: 20: 20, see Rashi)! However, we are still left with the question of why wine is chosen specifically to represent the ark of testimony.

Of all the details that distinguish the ark from the other vessels, there is one that really stands out: the ark is completely separated and hidden from everything else. The Tabernacle was built in such a way that the showbread table and candelabra were located in one section of the Tabernacle, while the ark, separated by a partition, was located in another section all by itself. In fact, the ark was barely even used! The candelabra was lit every day and the showbread table had its bread replaced every week. But the ark was only used once a year on Yom Kippur! Not only that, but it was forbidden to even get a quick glance of the ark! (See “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” for more details) Therefore, it can be said that a fundamental aspect of the ark of testimony is hiddenness and secrecy.

Wine too represents hiddenness and secrecy. It’s common knowledge that a little too much wine can cause one to say things he’d never say when sober. One’s deepest and darkest secrets are most vulnerable of being divulged when drinking too much. Wine possesses the unique ability to reveal that side of us that we keep hidden and locked away from everyone around us. Furthermore, the numerical value of “yayin” (“wine” in Hebrew) itself equals the same numerical value as “sod”, the Hebrew words for “secret”. Hence, the parallel between the ark of testimony and the cup of wine is that of secrecy.

Unfortunately, wine (along with all other kinds of alcohol) is most commonly misused by almost everyone these days. The true purpose of wine, which explains why it appears at practically every religious ceremony (Shabbos, weddings, circumcisions etc.), is to bring out that part of us which we keep hidden all too often: our soul. Wine is meant to serve as a spark for our soul, igniting it to come closer to God. It has the power to reveal that holy side of ourselves which we choose to ignore and keep concealed throughout our everyday life. Shabbos is a time to reflect on that other side of us; it is a time to realize just how much we’re hiding from who we really are and who we have the potential to be. May we merit to observe the Shabbos properly, and drink its wine for its true purpose.

Good Shabbos,

NZL