Holy Inside and Out

This year my Hebrew birthday (28th of the month of Shvat) occurred on February 13. The Torah portion coinciding with my Hebrew birthday is “Terumah” Exodus 25:1–27:19.

This was the Torah portion that I read from the Torah scroll in Synagogue for my Bar Mitzvah.

After the exciting stories at the beginning of the book of Exodus; Moses and Pharaoh, Plagues in Egypt, Splitting of the Sea and Revelation at Sinai… I was disappointed as a 13 year old to learn that my Parsha was going to be about the “boring” details of all the parts of the Tabernacle in the desert. Only as I grew older did I learn many of the deep lessons for personal growth hidden in these verses.

Here is an example based on some insights from my friend and colleague Rabbi Shraga Simmons

The Torah portion, Trumah, describes the construction of the Mishkan, the portable Tabernacle (Temple) that traveled with the Jewish People during their 40 years in the desert (and for 500 years after), until finding its permanent home in Jerusalem.

At the center of the Mishkan was the Holy Ark which contained the Tablets of the Ten Commandments. This Ark was made of wood. The Torah explains (Exodus 25:11): “You shall cover the wood with pure gold from the inside and from the outside.”

The need to cover the outside of the Ark with gold is understandable: The centerpiece of the Mishkan should certainly be majestic and regal. But what need is there to cover the wood on the inside of the box as well?

The Talmud (Yoma 72b) explains: A person’s outward appearance must be an accurate reflection of their insides. In other words, don’t be a hypocrite.

One of the wonders of Judaism is how the Hebrew language reveals truths about everyday life. The Hebrew word for face – “paneem,” is nearly identical to the Hebrew word for interior – “p’neem.” This teaches that the face we present must reflect our inner character. That our words and actions must be consistent with whom we really are inside.

This is not achieved overnight… to achieve purity of character and purity of action is a lifelong organic goal, and indeed this organic process is symbolized by the wooden layer that is sandwiched between the two layers of gold.