The Inner Meaning and Message of the Shulchan
By Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz
In this week’s parshah, Terumah, we read about the shulchan—the intricate table that was in the Holy Temple’s outer chamber called the kodesh (holy). While the menorah (candelabra) was made of one solid piece of gold, the shulchan was made of many different pieces. The table was made of wood and overlaid with gold; all the rest of its parts were made of pure gold. The shulchan was crowned with a golden trim which zigzagged. It had a golden framework, with golden trays that held 12 loaves of bread, called “show bread.” This unleavened bread had ends that turned upward on either side, so that the two ends faced each other. On the table were two golden spoons filled with frankincense.
What is the symbolism of the shulchan? How do we experience the shulchan in our lives today?
According to the Zohar, the shulchan was what brought blessing of sustenance to the tables of the whole world. According to the Talmud, the crown around the shulchan is symbolic of royal wealth, which King David deserved and received.
How can we harness these blessings in our own lives? By taking a deeper look at the shulchan and its parts, we find hints.
First, you have a table. The table is the center of the home; therefore, it is symbolic of the home itself, the center of Jewish life. Laden with pure gold and surrounded with a royal crown, it points to our dress and sense of dignity. How do we act? Do we see ourselves as ordinary, and thus dress and act that way? Or do we see ourselves as the royalty we are—the children of G-d, the King of Kings—and act accordingly? The way we see ourselves affects the way we act.
The way we act controls the spigot of blessing to our homes.
On the table was the Show Bread, which was unleavened. Bread is symbolic of our livelihood. Unleavened flat bread symbolizes humility, recognizing that our wealth is from G-d and not arrogantly thinking that it is our personal accomplishment. The bread’s ends faced each other, symbolizing love for your fellow man. The fact that it is one loaf shows that we are essentially one at our core.
Frankincense is a good-smelling spice; it is white, the resin from a tree. Good smells symbolize someone who does mitzvahs. The pure white color means that it lacks ulterior motives. Just as it is from a tree, which is constantly growing, so must we constantly add in mitzvahs.
Finally, it was placed on the north side—on the left of one looking out towards the entrance of the chamber—because on a Kabbalistic level, the shulchan is connected to the cognitive faculty of binah, which is on the left. Binah is the ability to take an abstract concept and develop it into a concrete, understandable and meaningful idea. This is done by breaking down the many parts of the concept and understanding them thoroughly. This refers to the study of Torah. Learning, digesting, developing, and finally, bringing it down into the concrete, making it accessible to all.
This, in essence, is the Jewish home. It is a royal abode, a place of dignity, humility and love. A place of Torah and mitzvahs. A place where G-d wants to be and gives His blessings.
Story Time WAS THE REBBE A PROFESSOR?
IT’S NO GAME!
The mashpia, R’ Zalman Moshe HaYitzchaki, once went to the yeshiva in Otvotzk where the tmimim were unfamiliar with his unique farbrengen style. The mashpia there, R’ Chatshe Feigin, asked him to farbreng with the tmimim.
R’ Zalman Moshe took a cup of mashke to say l’chaim and for half an hour didn’t say anything. Then he began to shout, “This is not a game! There is a G-dly soul and an animal soul.”
All night, he just banged on the table and repeated these words.
(Teshura)
WAS THE REBBE A PROFESSOR?
Once, when the Rebbe Rashab washed his hands for a meal, his younger brother, R’ Menachem Mendel told him in wonderment that he had just read in a Russian newspaper that medical experts had discovered a new vein which is full of a thin liquid which causes that when a person wants to remember something, he looks up, and when he wants to meditate on something, he inclines his head downward.
The Rebbe didn’t like being spoken to before saying “hamotzi.” He listened but did not respond. He dried his hands, ate a shiur, and then called over his brother and went over to the bookcase with him. He took out a small volume of handwritten Chassidus of the Mittler Rebbe and showed his brother six to seven lines that speak about this vein in the brain.
The Mittler Rebbe explains there that in the brain there is a vein full of vapor which moves
back and forth and aids in memory and concentration. When the vein moves toward the brain of chochma and bina, it helps memory; when it moves toward the brain of daas, it helps in thinking in depth. Therefore, we see that when a person wants to remember something, he lifts his head, and when he wants to focus on something, he bends his head downward.
The Rebbe asked him, was the Mittler Rebbe a big doctor? No! He never studied medical matters, but since he knew that this is the way it is in the Seder Hishtalshelus, in Supernal Man, he understood that this is how things are with man down here
‘HOW MANIFOLD ARE YOUR WORKS, HASHEM’
The Chassid, R’ Binyamin Kletzker went to Moscow on business and visited Morosov, a Russian who owned a large fabric factory. Morosov brought him to visit the factory and showed him big machines that made new items out of raw materials.
R’ Binyamin marveled at what he saw and said, “How manifold are Your works, Hashem; You made them all with wisdom!” He then entered a deveikus state, his face turned pale and he sang, “Ma rabu maasecha.” Around him people gathered in wonder, sensing that this was a holy man.
Morosov and his helpers held R’ Binyamin by his arms and carefully put him into a carriage which brought him to his hotel. Throughout this time, he had no idea what was happening and he remained in a state of deveikus for hours afterward.
(Heichel HaBaal Shem Tov issue 21, p. 141)
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INGREDIENTS
grapes mango, cubed
pineapple, cubed
(strawberries or large blueberries will work well here too!)
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons Pereg Sour Salt
1 lemon
PREPARATION
1. Combine sugar and sour salt.
2. Squeeze lemon over fruits.
3. Dip fruits into sugar.
4. Freeze for a few hours or overnight.
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