3405 Gulling Road, Reno, NV 89503
3405 Gulling Road, Reno, NV 89503
Rabbi Myra led our Torah Study starting at Exodus 39:22. We discussed a number of details in the account of the robe of the ephod. We noted that the word “opening” for the opening of the robe actually is the Hebrew word for mouth, peh, and that it is like the opening of a corselet with a binding around it so it will not tear. We noted that a corselet covers the torso and that an example of one is a coat of armor. We noted that the pomegranates on the robe are at or within the hem and alternate with bells.
Rabbi Myra pointed out that there is no mention in this account of the urim and thummim that Aaron is required to wear over his heart at all times. They are mentioned at Exodus 28:30. There also is no mention of the fact that the requirement that Aaron wear bells is so that he may not die.
Myra pointed out that the statement “Thus was completed all the work of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting” echoes the statement that God ceased from all God’s work on the seventh day of creation.
Our artwork this week is two prints by Russian-French Jewish artist, Marc Chagall (1887-1985 ), And Moses beheld all the work, and behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded; and Moses blessed them(above) and Moses and His People (below). The title (above) is from Exodus 39:43 which we will be reading soon. I’m not sure how it represents Moses looking at their work, seeing that they had done as commanded by YHVH, and blessing them, but Chagall is one of the few Jewish artists who has represented many passages in Torah, not just a few. (Another one who has done that is Avner Moriah.) In the painting, Moses, recognizable due to the rays of light coming from his head, has his hands out in blessing. Below him is a donkey, a city, a person and a menorah. Above him is an angel. Perhaps the idea is that, because they built the mishkan and the ohel moed properly, a life prosperous both for human beings and animals will result.
