It wasn’t just about golden walls and intricate carvings; according to tradition, miracles pulsed within its very structure.

Imagine this: When the Cherubim, those powerful angelic beings, were brought into the Temple, a double miracle occurred. The two staves attached to the Ark of the Covenant – the Ark that held the very tablets of the Ten Commandments – they extended, reaching out until they touched the parokhet, the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. And what’s more, two protuberances, like a woman’s breasts, became visible at the back of the curtain. What could this possibly signify? Our Sages pondered such things for generations!

But that's not all. The wings of the Cherubim themselves grew, reaching all the way to the ceiling of the Kodesh Hakodashim, the Holy of Holies. Think about that for a moment: these powerful, symbolic figures, their presence amplified to fill the most sacred space. It paints a picture of overwhelming divine presence, doesn't it?

Now, let’s talk tables. You see, in the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites through the desert, Moses made only one table. But Solomon, in his grand Temple, had ten. Why the change?

The reason, some say, is tied directly to the sustenance of the people. In the desert, sustained by manna, that miraculous food from heaven, one table sufficed. But once the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, the need for food increased, demanding a greater abundance. Therefore, Solomon created ten tables to meet that need.

But hold on – the original table of Moses didn't lose its significance. Oh no. It held a place of honor, situated right in the center. It was upon this table, and only this table, that the shewbread – the specially prepared bread offered to God – was placed.

And the placement of the other ten tables wasn't random either. Solomon arranged them strategically: five to the south, and five to the north. Why? Here's where it gets interesting.

According to tradition, the south is associated with blessing and abundance. "From the south come 'the dews of blessing and the rains of plenty,'" as we find in various sources. But the north? The north is considered the source of evil. So, Solomon, in his wisdom, declared: "The tables on the south side shall cause the rains of plenty and the dews of blessing to come upon the earth, while the tables on the north side shall keep off all evil from Israel."

It’s a fascinating insight into how our ancestors perceived the world – a world where even the placement of tables could influence the flow of divine blessing and protection. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What seemingly small choices are we making that might have larger, unseen consequences? And how can we orient ourselves towards the "south," towards those sources of blessing and abundance, in our own lives?