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Jewish tradition certainly thinks so, and it gives us some pretty compelling stories to illustrate this point. Think about the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, that portabl...
See, he hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Observe what He did for Bezalel. The Holy One, blessed be He, instilled wisdom in his heart, as it is said: And he hath filled hi...
And Bezalel made the ark (Exod. 37:1). You find that everything constructed for the Tabernacle was made in its proper order. First he made the boards and joined them together. Afte...
And Bezalel made the ark of acacia-wood (Exod. 37:1). Because it was known to Him-who-spoke-and-the-world-came into-being that Israel will sin at Shittim, the Holy One, blessed be ...
One of the disciples of R. Yishmael said: It is written (Exodus 35:3) "You shall not light a fire in all of your dwellings on the Sabbath day." Burning was in the category (of all ...
(Exodus 35:1) "And Moses assembled, etc." What is the intent of this section? From (Ibid. 25:8) "and they shall make for Me a sanctuary," I might think both on a weekday and on the...
The story of Bezalel, the architect of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), offers a glimpse into that sacred space. Now, Bezalel wasn't just any craftsman. He came from impressive stock. Acc...
He was the master craftsman chosen to bring the Tabernacle to life. A true artist, filled "with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kind...
The story of Bezalel, the architect of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, gives us a glimpse. It's a fascinating tale. Even though God Himself knew that Bezalel was absolutely the right ...
Build the Tabernacle first, and then create the Ark of the Covenant, the special chest to house the Torah. Makes sense. But then came Bezalel, the master craftsman, with a differen...
We often hear about Moses, the leader, the lawgiver. But what about the unsung heroes, the ones whose eagerness and devotion actually brought the whole thing to life? The story goe...
According to Legends of the Jews, everything was actually finished in the month of Kislev—that’s around November/December on our calendar. They were ready to go, eager to erect thi...
According to Legends of the Jews, drawing from various Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic sources, the Israelites were so generous in their donations for the Tabernacle t...
The princes of the tribes in the story of building the Mishkan (Tabernacle) knew that feeling all too well. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, when Moses cal...
Seems straightforward. Not so fast. God wanted the selection to happen at the Tabernacle – the Mishkan, that portable sanctuary that was the heart of their spiritual lives. The ide...
The people brought so much gold that Moses had to tell them to stop. That detail, preserved by Josephus, captures something remarkable about the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle...
This mystical text, part of the Zohar, delves into the deepest secrets of Kabbalah, and today we're going to explore a very specific and fascinating corner of it. The Idra Zuta, li...
"These are the things that the Lord commanded to be done. For six days work shall be performed, but the seventh day shall be holy for you" (Exodus 35:1-2). Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of B...
Our jumping-off point is a verse from Numbers (Bamidbar) 10:10: "And on the day of your rejoicing and on your appointed times you shall sound the trumpets." Seems straightforward. ...
The collection of materials for the Tabernacle in (Exodus 35:1-35) is, in the Hebrew Bible, a straightforward account of voluntary giving. The Targum Jonathan inserts miracles that...
And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel” (Exod. 35:30). Scripture states elsewhere: So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight o...
And he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia-wood (Exod. 36:20). R. Tahlifa of Caesarea said: The Holy One, blessed be He, taught man correct behavior. If a man desired to b...
It turns out, even the number of curtains held a profound significance. : eleven curtains made of goats' hair. Why eleven? Well, according to tradition, it mirrors the eleven heave...
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, opens up a fascinating window into this very question. It uses a beautiful image – the "rose of Sh...
Sabbath Pre-Eminence. Sanhedrin (the supreme rabbinic court), f. 65 a—b. B. Batra, 6. Sota, V. cf. Sota, 31, s. v. Gadol. J. Berakhot, IX. Pesikta R, ch. 23, f. 119b. Tanh. Exod. K...
Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically Bamidbar Rabbah 2, which explores these very questions through the lens of ancient Israelite camp ...
And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri” (Exod. 35:30). May it please our masters to teach us: How far must a person g...
See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Scripture says elsewhere: To whom then will ye liken Me, that I should be equal? saith the Lord. Lift up your eyes on high ...
And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood (Exod. 37:1). Scripture states elsewhere: The opening of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (Ps. 119:130). When...
And Bezalel made the ark (Exod. 37:1). You do not find Bezalel’s name associated with any vessel made for the Sanctuary other than the ark. All the other work and all the other imp...
The Book of Jubilees, also known as Lesser Genesis, is an ancient Jewish religious work of 50 chapters, considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as Ethiopian J...
We’re not just talking about a nice nap after a good meal. We're diving deep into a vision of Sabbath so profound, so all-encompassing, that it could be, well... deadly serious. Le...
We're heading into the Book of Jubilees. Now, the Book of Jubilees isn't actually part of the Hebrew Bible as we know it, but it’s a fascinating text. It’s considered part of the J...
The Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating text that purports to describe the creation of the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), gives us a glimpse into this questi...
The dead do not simply lie still. According to the Chronicles of Jerahmeel, a 12th-century Hebrew chronicle translated by Moses Gaster in 1899, the righteous dead have a vast habit...
The Bible itself gives us some clues, but the full picture? It's painted in vibrant detail in the Legends of the Jews, Louis Ginzberg's masterful compilation of rabbinic lore. So, ...
It wasn’t just about being chosen; it was about who he was. The text tells us, in Legends of the Jews, that all the blessings showered upon him weren't undeserved. He was “clean of...
You're in good company. Even Moses, the great lawgiver, felt that way. : God Himself tells Moses, "Go, deliver Israel!" And what's Moses's response? "Who am I?" He essentially says...
It's more than just a pretty tent, you know. It's a story of atonement, of divine presence, and of a relationship between God and the Jewish people that’s been unfolding for millen...
A experience. God unveils before him the very blueprints for the Mishkan, the Tabernacle – that portable sanctuary that would house the Divine Presence during the Israelites' wande...
It wasn’t just a tent, was it? According to ancient wisdom, it was a reflection of something much, much bigger. The idea is this: "for to all that is above there is something corre...
It’s a question that leads us down a fascinating path through history, prophecy, and the very nature of divine acceptance. Think about the Tabernacle, and later the Temple in Jerus...
After all the materials were gathered, ready for this incredible, portable sanctuary to be built, Bezalel didn't just get to work; he dove in, soul first. And that's what the Torah...
Seems like a pretty sacred task. Well, not everyone saw it that way. Ginzberg, in his monumental work, Legends of the Jews, tells us that even as Moses was leading this incredible ...
It wasn't just about hammering tent pegs and hanging curtains. There was a whole ritual, a consecration, full of wonder and divine intervention. One of the most fascinating aspects...
See, before the Mishkan was built, the world was apparently crawling with demons. Ginzberg, in Legends of the Jews, recounts how these spirits had free rein, wandering wherever the...
But for Elisheba, the joy is amplified fivefold! As Ginzberg recounts in Legends of the Jews, luck seems to be showering blessings specifically on her. Her husband, Aaron, is the H...
And when we look at the story of Joseph, the biblical hero, we find a fascinating answer. Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt, faces temptation at every turn. But he remains steadfa...
