Rabbi Sara led our session, starting at Exodus 37:1. We discussed the description of Bezalel making the ark (aron). R. Sara pointed out that the cantillation emphasizes aron and stated that it is because the aronis the footstool of God. We noted that the gold overlay of the ark is pretty fancy. R. Sara pointed out the zer can mean rim, crown or molding. I asked whether Bezalel actually did all the work described. R. Sara stated that he has already been described as multi-talented and so it is reasonable to assume that he did all of it. R. Myra suggested another possibility, that ‘he did it’ means ‘he organized it’. R. Sara stated that the four rings are for the four poles not for four feet and we generally concurred that that makes more sense. We noted two meanings of kaporet, covering and atonement. There’s a cover over the ark but it has something to do with atonement. R. Myra reminded us of Friedman’s translation of the kaporet over the ark as atonement dais.
