5-Bullet Friday: Parshas Pikudei

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5-Bullet Friday

This week is Parshas Pikudei! Check out this week's d'var torah here.

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Here is this week's 5-Bullet Friday, a quick summary of thoughts I’ve been pondering during the week:
:

  • Question I'm pondering (on the parsha): Only there when not here? The passukim (40:34-35) describe that when the anan (Cloud) covered the Ohel Moed, that it meant that the k’vod Hashem was present and filled the Mishkan. During such time, Moshe was not allowed to enter the Ohel Moed. Rashi comments that this passuk clearly indicates that Moshe only spoke to Hashem when the shecina was not present, after the cloud departed and kavod Hashem left from filling the Mishkan. The question is that it sounds like it should be the other way around. Shouldn’t it have been that Moshe (who Hashem said spoke peh ell peh to Him) would converse with Hashem specifically when Hashem was most present? How could we understand the passukim and Rashi that Moshe’s conversations with Hashem were once the shechina left from filling the Mishkan? It would be hard to argue that it would require a higher level of Holiness than Moshe already had accomplished, after all he went up on Har Sinai to receive the Torah!
  • Concept I am considering: Kilaim; some things just weren’t meant to be together. There are five main categories of kila’im - the prohibition of certain joining of different seeds and animals: 1. Kila’i zeraim 2. kila’i ha’kerem 3. Kila’i be’haima 4.kila’i revaah 5. Kila’i begadim. There is a machlokes Rashi and Ramban by some of these categories and scenarios where Rashi holds broadly that the halachos of kila’im are all chukim (mitzvos that we do not know a reason for); while the Ramban maitains that the reason why (some of) these categories of kila’im are forbidden is because such combinations demonstrate a fundamental disbelief in ma’aseh beraishis and that everything that was meant to be naturally created was during that time.
  • Hashkafic idea I'm reflecting on: Necessary breaks. The last Rashi in this week’s parsha writes that the places that the b’nei Yisroel rested were also called “journeys”. We see from here that when breaks or outlets are taken and utilized on a journey, it is considered part of the journey. If it isn’t necessary that certainly it could be deemed a hefsek and interrupt consistency. However, breaks that are necessary are essential to the success of the journey and are therefore considered as part of it. Think about it: When we feel we need a break from doing something productive, be smart about the type of break it is. It presents an opportunity to become distracted or waste time , but could also present the opportunity to actually successfully complete the task at hand and make the break a part of the essential journey.   
  • Middah on my mind: Nedivus. Nedivus is the middah of generosity. The Orchos Tzaddikim writes that one could be generous with one’s guf/body (help others physically), with one’s mamon/money (giving aid to those in need), or with one’s chachma/advise (spending time and advising those who could use support). This middah is certainly relevant in the context of the B’nei Yisroel contributing to the mishkan as well as in the theme of Purim - giving matanos l’evyonim - and Pesach - giving ma’os chittin. As great as the middah of nedivus is to be generous, it is important to remember that like all middos, they are traits and not actions. The middah of nedivus channeled with good intentions for good things take the form of the aforementioned examples, however the core middah of nedivus to be overly giving could take a turn for the not-as-good when one overspends on oneself on expensive or unnecessary things.  
  • Part of Tefillah I'm concentrating on: Ashrei. “...Aromimcha…” The Radak writes that the intention here is that we recognize in both our hearts and our mouths (intention/belief and praise) that Hashem is exalted above all kings and all other things high and low. 
What's on your mind? 

Have a wonderful Shabbos!

P.S:
  • Completely random thought I'm thinking about: Forms of feedback. Forms of feedback. Of course there are many forms of feedbacks and feed-forwards. But, on my mind this week are these three: 1. Positive feedback (used to encourage a current behavior for the future). 2. Constructive feedback (used to clarify expectations and provide information). 3. Negative feedback (used to immediately correct a bad behavior). Each of these three (and all the others) has its place, the challenge is not to gravitate towards the easiest one but to be thoughtful as to which tool to use for which situation. Challenge: The next time(s) you are offering feedback, try to think about which of the three you are using and if it is the proper one. Do you gravitate towards a specific form of feedback? Does it depend on who it is you are providing the feedback to? 
Have comments or thoughts on this week's bullets? Have other random thoughts on your mind? Send an email to torahparallels@gmail.com. Thank you!

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