A rabbi friend of mine wanted to speak about the idea of Achdut- unity, and asked me if I “could find” a connection with the Mishkan and parsha? I answered that according to Rav Kook, all of Torah and monotheism, is based upon this central issue of Achdut (see my most recent weekly she’ur on YUTorah, “Achdut- Uniting (Even!) the Opposites as THE Central Theme in Rav Kook” (Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 70), and the Mishkan, His “resting place”, is no exception.
In fact, one of the classic explanations why the Mishkan is reviewed so many times in the Torah, is because the idea of doing away with Bamot (where everyone sacrifices privately and as individuals in their own back yard), and rather having one central national Mikdash and capitol (both religious and political), is a novel innovation of Am Yisrael and monotheism. Similarly, the Mishkan was designed by Betzalel from Shevet Yehuda (the first tribe when traveling in the desert) and Ohaliav from Shevet Dan (the last tribe there), to symbolize that all Israel is involved. “Make a Mikdash and I will dwell in them” (Shmot 25, 8), not “in it” but “in them”= in Israel (Lekach Tov, Truma 25)! Similarly, the Mishkan’s construction is constantly stressing uniting the boards, the curtains, the walls, etc. etc. “והיה המשכן אחד”, “and the Mishkan will be one” (Shmot 26, 6).
Accordingly, the Talmud teaches that the 2nd Mikdash was destroyed either because of Sinat Chinam (needless hate) or because most of the Jews from Bavel didn’t come on aliya with Ezra (Yoma 9b), where the common denominator between the two, is clearly: a lack of unity. Accordingly, Rav Kook writes (in maybe his most popular quote!) it’s Ahavat Chinam, needless love, which will rebuild our 3rd Commonwealth (Orot HaKodesh iii, pp. 323-324).
Achdut is another name for G-d, “ואהבת לרעך כמוך, אני ה’”, that when we love each other, Hashem admits that’s how He is revealed in the world. “What does [Hashem] ask from us? That we should love each other” (Midrash Eliahu Rabba 28), for we all know it drives parents crazy when their children fight.
If unity is not just an ideal, but also logically very beneficial, why do we see it is so hard for Jews? Because “Israel is the most brazen of all nations” (Gittin 25b). The Maharal explains: there’s a fine line between idealism (which is great) and being argumentative (which isn’t!), and that’s what Free-Will is about. As Ben-Gurion said: “Two Jews have three opinions!”. Israeli political infighting, which intelligence revealed is why Hamas moved up their attack, has resurfaced again this week. I can’t believe that our politicians (both “just not Bibi” and “just Bibi” camps) and even more so, security leadership, haven’t learned their lesson! Like all of society’s problems, Rav Kook stresses the solution is not in the leadership (for they are the problem), but in educating the next generation differently (Ma’amarei HaReiya, p. 230). The younger generation of soldiers and officers, religious and non-religious (and hopefully we should involve the Haredim, as well) in the IDF, clearly know how to work together shoulder to shoulder, and we should try transferring the political steering-wheel to them ASAP.
“אתה אחד ושמך אחד ומי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד בארץ” (עמידה של מנחה בשבת)
Shabbat Shalom!!! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)