RITSS HIGH SCHOOL

PRESENTS A D`VAR TORAH

PARSHA INSIGHTS - BEHAR BECHUKOSAI

By Rabbi Moshe Heigh

THE PRE-ASSEMBLED THIRD BAIS HAMIKDOSH - A GIFT FROM G-D

     Among Hashem's promises of good fortune for observing His mitzvos, He foretells that we will be privileged to see an exceptionally holy dwelling for His presence. "I will place My sanctuary (Mishkani) in your midst" (26:11). The Gemara Eruvin 2A, near the end of the page, points out that the word "Mishkan", used in this pasuk, refers to the Bais Hamikdosh. In fact, the Gemara proves that the words "Mishkan" and "Mikdash" are interchangeable.

     Which Bais Hamikdosh does Hashem promise to Bnai Yisroel in our pasuk? The Or Hachaim, in the end of his comments on 26:11, maintains that it is the third one. We know that in the future, Hashem will present us with the splendid Bayis Shlishi, the third Temple, which will represent eternal sanctity and spiritual bliss. Or Hachaim cites the Zohar that this sanctuary will be lowered from heaven to earth. This idea is restated in the rishonim. Rashi on the very bottom of Succah 41A states: "The future Bais Hamikdosh which we are awaiting - it is built and decorated; it will be revealed and will come from heaven, as it says (Shmos 15:17), '...the sanctuary, Hashem, WHICH YOUR HANDS ESTABLISHED.'" Tosfos on the same Gemara and in Shavuos 15B agree.

     The Or Hachaim then quotes the Gemara Bava Basra 75A regarding the makeup of the future walls of Yerushalayim. One opinion states that they will be constructed of "shoham", or onyx, a precious stone containing bands of black, white, and red. The other view is that they will be of "yoshfai", or jasper, another multi-colored stone. To reconcile the dispute, the Gemara declares that Hashem will tolerate the TWO opinions, creating magnificent walls of onyx AND jasper. Although Rashi on this Gemara explains that the topic is the walls of the CITY OF JERUSALEM, the Or Hachaim on our pasuk in Bechukosai applies this entire discussion to the BAIS HAMIKDOSH walls which Hashem will send down in the future. Remember, the rishonim cite the pasuk in Oz Yashir (Shmos 15:17), "The sanctuary, Hashem, which Your hands established", to show that the Bayis Shlishi is fashioned by the Master Builder Himself. The Or Hachaim puts that pasuk together with today's. "I will place My sanctuary in your midst (26:11)". They are both expressing the same concept! The building which is molded by Hashem will be brought down and planted in the midst of Klal Yisroel. It will stand forever, as indicated by the words in the end of our pasuk (26:11): "My spirit will not despise you".

     Rav Zalman Sorotzkin explains: the first and second Bais Hamikdosh were quite different from this third one. They were created by human hands. Even their glorious predecessor, the Mishkan in the wilderness, was the work of people. What inspiring message is Hashem sending in today's parsha by saying "I will place My sanctuary in your midst"? If Bnai Yisroel will fulfill the mitzvos of the Torah properly, a unique Bais Hamikdosh will descend, one erected by Hashem Himself. WE will not be the ones to construct it for Hashem to dwell in. It is shown in many places that absolute teshuva, repentance on the part of the Jewish people, will rectify the first sin committed, that of Adam Harishon eating from the aitz hada'as. Humankind has within it the ability to return to that spiritual, utopian existence of "Adam and Chava before their sin". Such complete teshuva will prompt Hakadosh Baruch Hu to present us with the Bayis Shlishi.

     The Oznaim L'torah reminds us that Bnai Yisroel were already given a gift directly from heaven at their acceptance of the Torah. After reaching the lofty goal of unity in thought and purpose, the Jewish people declared "na'aseh v'nishama - we will do and obey" (Mishpatim 24:7). It is expressed by our sages that this state of being was comparable to Adam and Chava before the sin of the aitz hada'as. At that point, we were also handed something straight from heaven. Moshe received the luchos of stone which are described in the following manner: "And the tablets were the work of G-d, and the writing was the writing of G-d, engraved upon the tablets" (Ki Sisa 32:16). I would like to add that the Targum Yonasan on Ki Sisa 31:18 describes these precious objects as tablets of sapphire stone from the Throne of Glory (kisai hakavod). About these luchos, Chazal declare that they were created during twilight of erev Shabbos in the beginning of the world's formation (Avos 5:6). Clearly, they were constructed for the specific purpose of containing the words of Torah handed over to Moshe Rabainu.

     However, this was true only BEFORE the sin of worshiping the Golden Calf. At that point, Bnai Yisroel were still similar to Adam Harishon before his transgression. After this avaira, when Hashem agreed to grant us a new set of tablets, He told Moshe to carve them out of sapphire (Ki Sisa 34:1). Moshe did so, taking the precious stone from a quarry in his tent, shown to him by Hashem (Rashi 34:1 from Midrash Tanchuma). Still, the writing on these second luchos was that of Hashem Himself (34:1).

     In short, there are at least two time periods that Bnai Yisroel emulate Adam and Chava before their wrongdoing. At Matan Torah we reached this level, and we will also accomplish this in the future. Each time this occurs, Hashem presents us with a precious gift, fashioned by His very hands. At the receiving of the Torah, the luchos of heavenly sapphire, taken from the Throne of Glory, were handed to Moshe to transmit to us. In the future, a magnificent Bais Hamikdosh will descend, also formed by G-d.

     Incidentally, the statement of Rashi and Tosfos, brought also in the above mentioned Or Hachaim from the Zohar, that the future Bais Hamikdosh will be created by G-d and not by humans, does not necessarily disagree with the Rambam. The Rambam in Hilchos Melachim 11:4 explains that if a king arises from the house of Dovid, and he successfully builds the Bais Hamikdosh in its place, plus other remarkable feats, he is definitely Moshiach. It sounds like the third Bais Hamikdosh will be built by people! But this does not have to be true. The connotation could very well be that he will bring about the presence of this Bais Hamikdosh, as if he had built it. However, Harav Eliyahu Touger, on page 233 of his commentary on the Rambam, suggests that these rishonim are arguing, the Rambam maintaining that Moshiach will actually initiate human construction of the holy edifice. One source for this is the Midrash Rabba Naso 13:2. There, on page 51 of the Vilna edition, Chazal state that Moshiach will "come and BUILD" the Bais Hamikdosh. This is one reason to say that the Rambam means it literally. Rav Touger brings a reconciliation between the rishonim which we will not explore. Whichever approach we focus on, one thing is certain. Today's pasuk predicts that "I will place My sanctuary in your midst" (26:11).

     As the Yom Tov of Shavuos draws near, may we be zocheh to our own Kabolas Hatorah, similar to Bnai Yisroel in the year 2448, when heaven-made luchos were given to them. Even more, a heaven-made Bais Hamikdosh, a genuine present from Hashem, would truly make things perfect.

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