Based
on Kedushat Levi of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev
(first
posted on KabbalaOnline.org)
"Don't kindle any fire in all your dwelling places
on the Shabbat day." (Ex. 35:3)
They beat out thin leaves of gold and cut them into threads,
which were then spun together with the royal blue, purple and crimson
wool and the fine linen. (Ex. 39:3)
The Tabernacle was fashioned by Betzalel, who understood
the will of G-d and understood how to fuse and combine the letters of
the alef-bet, with which the world was created. Betzalel, who was imbued
with chochma, bina, and daat (wisdom, understanding and knowledge) built
the Tabernacle patterned after the world which was created with chochma,
bina, and daat. (Berachot 55a).
G-d originally intended to create the world using the
attribute of strict justice. But G-d saw that the world would not be
able to last, so He blended the attribute of chesed (mercy and kindness)
and other attributes together with judgment in order to provide everything
that His creations would need for their sustenance, both physical and
spiritual. ( Bereishit Rabba 12:15)
The Tabernacle was a model of the original work of Creation,
and Betzalel, with his chochma, bina, and daat, and his artisans used
the different attributes of the Creation in their work. This is alluded
to by the gold and silver, and royal blue, purple, crimson and fine
linen textiles that were used in constructing the Tabernacle. Gold represents
the attribute of judgment, and silver the attribute of loving-kindness.
The Tabernacle needed both precious metals to be complete. (See Zohar
II 148a)
The gold (representing judgment) was beaten out very thin
in order to reduce and sweeten the harsh effect of the attribute of
judgment. Then it was cut into threads so that attribute of judgment
would not be whole. Afterwards they were spun together with royal blue,
purple, crimson and fine linen threads which represent other attributes
of G-d's Creation. Then the attribute of judgment would be appropriately
blended into all aspects of Creation and help them when needed to subdue
the power of the Evil Inclination.
(First published in B'Ohel Hatzadikim, Pekudei
5760)
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-25 Tishrei 1810)
is one of the most popular rebbes in chassidic history. He was a close
disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch. He is best known for his love for
every Jew and his active efforts to intercede for them against (seemingly)
adverse heavenly decrees. Many of his teachings are contained in the
posthumously published, Kedushat Levi.
Rabbi Binyomin Adilman is the former head of
the Nishmas Chayim Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Back issues of his weekly parsha
sheet, B'ohelei Tzadikim, from which this article was taken, may be
found on www.nishmas.org.
