5783/2023
In Parshat Terumah, the Torah tells us, in great detail, about
the construction of the many different Keilim in the Mishkan. Perhaps the most prominent of these Keilim is the Aron Kodesh. The Aron is unique in so many ways. It was the only one of the Keilim in the Kodesh HaKodashim, meaning it was only ever seen once a year by one individual. Also, it housed some of the holiest articles the Jewish people had at the time, including both pairs of Luchot, a jar of Man, and Aaron's staff. Lastly, it was unique in its construction. Rashi writes that the Aron was actually made of three boxes, with one stuck inside of the other (Shemot 25:11). The innermost box contained the Luchot and other artifacts.
Additionally, the Aron had a unique lid, known as Kaporet, which played the very important role of covering the top of the Aron, a role repeatedly stressed in the Pesukim as very important. Lastly, the most unique part of the Aron was the Keruvim, the two golden angels built on top of the Aron. Rashi points out that these Keruvim were made out of the same piece of gold as the Kaporet. The Pesukim describe the Keruvim in a couple of very interesting ways. One of these is the description of the wings. The Pasuk says that the wings were spread upward, and yet, at the same time, they covered the Aron (ibid. 25:20). As Rav Dovid Gottlieb points out, while this is architecturally possible and isn’t an explicit miracle, it is still very impressive and unique and deserves further analysis.
That same Pasuk also says that the Keruvim are supposed to be facing each other, but at the same time, it says that their faces are supposed to be turned down toward the Kaporet.
The big question that arises from these seemingly contradictory descriptions is: how were the Keruvim able to be built in such a way that they fit all of these criteria and what is the significance of them being built and described in this very unique, specific way? Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch answers this question by teaching us a very fundamental idea about the Keruvim. They actually served in a dual-function capacity. One of the roles of the Keruvim is a protective one, as they serve to guard the Aron Kodesh and its holy contents. Their construction makes this role clear. The wings are clearly spread out in a way that covers the Aron. They also look down towards the Aron which, Rav Hirsch says, is how a guard presents himself in order to appear serious and focused. However, the Keruvim also serve a second purpose, and that is “to bear the glory of Hashem” as Rav Gottlieb put it. This is clear in the way that the wings spread upwards as if they are carrying something. They are supposed to look like they are carrying the Shechinah.
However, a question arises from this answer. When discussing the protective role played by the Keruvim, the Pasuk says that they specifically guard the Kaporet. But, as we saw earlier from Rashi, the Kaporet and the Keruvim are made from the same piece of gold. So how can we say that the Keruvim protect the Kaporet if they are, in many ways, the same thing? Why would the protector need protection? The answer to this question provides us with an invaluable lesson for life and our personal Avodat Hashem. The bottom of that piece of gold is the Kaporet. It serves a limited role, that of simple protection and covering the Aron Kodesh. But as that piece of gold rises, it turns into the Keruvim, the ultimate protectors of such high levels of Kedusha. This shows the value of the Kaporet- although it only serves one role, because that is the role of guarding the Torah, it ultimately is able to rise up to the lofty level of the Keruvim. This is a lesson we must all apply to our own lives as well. We must understand that by guarding the Torah, you become someone who not only fulfills that important task of guarding the Torah, but you also become the source of your own protection, as the Torah will continue to raise you up to higher and higher levels of Kedusha and will bring you closer to Hashem. This idea is even more powerful when you understand where it was coming from. Rav Hirsch spent a large portion of his life fighting against people who attempted to modernize Judaism. He showed that if you protect the Torah and its integrity, you are able to achieve extraordinary spiritual heights. May we all use the many Torah opportunities we are presented with on a daily basis to help
ourselves grow in all areas of our life and become more capable Ovdei Hashem.