Behaaloscha – Chiseled Hunk

Our Parsha begins with the commandment for Aaron to kindle the Menorah, the intricately embellished, seven-branched candelabra hewn out of a single block of gold. Towards the Parsha’s middle, we read about the set of silver trumpets that Moshe made, again hewn out of a single block of silver. The only other item with this requirement is the set of golden cherubs perched atop the Ark’s Cover. Why must these items be made in this unusual fashion? Why cant the Menorah’s branches be made separately and welded together? Why cant the golden cherubs be created separately and subsequently attached to the Ark’s Cover? In this fascinating podcast we propose a novel explanation that reveals the deep insight for the things that must be created by omission, and contrast it with the sukkah that has the opposite requirement: it cannot be made by hollowing out a mound of material to form the sukkah’s walls and roof.

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This Parsha Podcast is dedicated in honor of our dear friend and dedicated Parsha Podcast listener Steve Horak on the occasion of his birthday this week sponsored by his children Meirav and Ahron and granddaughter Libi. Happy birthday my friend! May this year bring only blessing and goodness to you and your family!

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DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!

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