Parashat VaYakhel-Pekudei Shabbat HaChodesh

Meaning of the Mishkan (Tabernacle)

Everything in the Mishkan paralleled what G-d had made during the six days of creation.

• The curtains of goats' wool paralleled the heaven and the earth.
• The washstand and its base represented the seas and rivers.
• The altar and its sacrifices paralleled the animals.
• The incense altar paralleled all spices and remedies.
• The menorah paralleled the sun and the moon. Its seven lamps paralleled the seven heavenly bodies: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon.

All this comes to teach that making the Mishkan paralleled the creation of heaven and earth and the entire universe.

We thus see that G-d used the same expression in creation as He did when making the Mishkan. When G-d made the universe, He said, "He spread out the heaven like a curtain." (Tehillim 104:2) Regarding the Mishkan G-d also spoke of "curtains of goats' wool."

On the second day G-d said, "Let there be an expanse in the middle of the water and let it divide between water and water." (Bereishit 1:6)  G-d wanted there to be a division between the upper water and the lower water. In the Mishkan G-d said, "The cloth barrier shall be a separation for you." (Shemot 26:33)  This hanging was a barrier between the sanctuary and the Holy of Holies.

On the third day G-d said, "Let the waters be gathered." (Bereishit 1:9) With regard to the Mishkan G-d said, "You shall make a copper washstand and its base out of copper, and you shall place water there." (Shemot 30:18)

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