The Mishkan is universally known as the “House of G-d.” It serves as a potent symbol of the unique relationship between Hashem and His Nation, am Yisrael. The Ramban in Parshas T’rumah comments on the juxtaposition of the command to build the Mishkan to Matan Torah, when klal Yisrael received the Torah on Har Sinai. He explains that the Mishkan perpetuated the experience at Har Sinai. It transformed this one-time event into a continuous and everlasting relationship, allowing every single Jew the opportunity to bask in the presence of the Sh’chinah. The Mishkan’s structure and rituals reflect not only the events that took place at Sinai, but also their purpose, which was to command B’nei Yisrael with the laws that they are to keep in the Holy Land of Israel, so they can properly represent Hashem as His special nation.
Nestled in the Jerusalem hillside, Yeshivas Neveh Zion has been meeting the needs of its students for more than 40 years. The yeshivah specializes in fostering relationships between students and rebbeim, providing a non-judgmental forum where young men can voice their unanswered questions and resolve issues. Through lectures of their esteemed faculty, as well as renowned guest speakers, the yeshivah provides each student with a well-rounded experience to strengthen and deepen his connection to authentic Yiddishkeit and to see the relevance of Judaism in their lives.
On one occasion, the yeshivah had the privilege of having Rabbi Avraham Chaim Feuer shlita speak to the students. His words were deeply inspiring, as he related a moving story about a young man named Shay, who lived in the Shaarei Chessed section of Jerusalem. Shay learns in the kollel of Rav Moshe Shapiro shlita, and one Shabbos, Rabbi Feuer asked Shay to repeat something that he heard from his rebbi that week. Shay reviewed a passage in the Taz (Turei Zahav) in Hilchos Birkas HaTorah (Orach Chayim 47), who cites the Tur, that every morning when we say the blessing, “asher bachar banu mi’kol ha’amim... – Who chose us from all of the nations and gave us His Torah...” we should imagine ourselves standing at Har Sinai while Hashem is offering us the Torah, and we are screaming, “Naaseh V’Nishma – we’ll take it!”
After Shay said over this point from Rav Moshe Shapiro, he began to cry. He explained to Rabbi Feuer that he cried because this point reminds him of his roots. He is really a baal t’shuvah, a repentant Jew. A few years earlier, he was a typical Israeli chiloni (non-religious person), who hung out on Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv and was involved in all sorts of deviant things.
When he graduated school, he traveled to Africa, to the deepest jungle, for a bit of adventure. He was driving a rented jeep on the mud roads when suddenly a young black boy jumped in front of his jeep and stuck out his hand. He was told to expect this, so he brought candies along and gave him one. All of a sudden, out of the jungle, jumped 25 brawny black men who surrounded his jeep with menacing looks on their faces. The leader stepped forward and asked, “Where are you from?”
Shay was frightened and didn’t think clearly. “Israel,” he responded, not realizing that they probably don’t like Israel in these parts. However, the moment he said the word, the leader’s face changed from menacing to profound respect.
He pointed his finger at him and said, “You are chosen people, yes? You are chosen people!”
The leader then turned to his compatriots and spoke in a foreign dialect. They, too, suddenly lost their scowling, menacing looks and replaced them with respect and awe. They began to chant, “You are chosen people, you are chosen people...”
Shay told Rabbi Feuer, “They let me go; but without a doubt, that was the most embarrassing moment of my entire life. Because here I come from Tel Aviv, Israel, and these black tribal men in the middle of the darkest Congo know more about what it means to be a Jew than I do. I know nothing, zero, zilch, nada about Judaism!” Shay’s tears were streaming down his cheeks. “Can you imagine? They know that I am a chosen person, and I didn’t know that. I was just living life for nothing. I was so embarrassed that, at that moment, I made up my mind to turn my jeep around, go back to Nairobi and take the next plane back to Tel Aviv. I was determined to find out what it means to be a chosen people, to be a Jew.”
Rabbi Feuer concluded his speech. “This is why Shay cried when he said over the Taz on Birkas HaTorah. Shay came back and did a complete repentance. Now he raises money for two kollelim and learns by Rav Moshe Shapiro.”
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
