A Synergetic Triangle
The menorah was placed on the south side of the Sanctuary directly across from the table of the showbread on the north side. The Holy of Holies housing the ark was on the west side. These three vessels form a triangle, with the ark as the singular point and the menorah and the table as the two extremities of the triangle. The menorah represents spiritual attainment, while the table, material bounty. Both are manifestations of the tablets of the law that were housed in the ark. We learn from this that there is no real division in Jewish life between spiritual and physical; they both must be employed and united in the service of God. Based on the placement of the menorah to the south and the table of the showbread to the north, the Sages taught that one seeking wisdom should turn to the south while those who seek wealth should turn to the north.
The Hebrew word for ark is ארון, aron. Three of its letters spell light, אור, while its last letter is also the last letter of the word table, שלחן, and one of the letters of menorah, מנורה. Here we see the menorah and table united in the ark, an example of one becoming two in order to become one.
It should further be noted that the ark, menorah and table are all connected through their association with life in general, and more specifically, the Tree of Life. The tree-like embellishments of the menorah discussed above, allude to its symbolizing the Tree of Life. The two tablets of the law housed in the ark also relate to the Tree of Life as they are the quintessential revelation of Torah, which is itself a Tree of Life (as referenced in the previous section). Along with the two tablets of the law, the ark also contained the original Torah written by Moses before his death. Finally, the table of the twelve loaves of showbread is also connected to life, as in the well-known expression that bread is the “staff of life.” In fact, one of the opinions as to the identification of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, the physical and spiritual twin of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, was wheat!
The final Kabbalistic aspect that unites these three vessels in the Tabernacle is their connection to the Hebrew letters. According to tradition, Bezalel, the main craftsman of the Tabernacle, knew how to construct it because he knew the secrets of how the Holy One permuted the Hebrew letters to create heaven and earth. The Sefer Yetzirah divides the letters into three parts: three mother letters representing air, water and fire: (alef, mem shin); seven “double letters” (those that have two pronunciations: beit, gimmel, dalet, chaf, peh, reish, tav); and twelve “simple letters” (all the remaining letters: hei, vav, zayin, chet, tet, yud, lamed, nun, samech, ayin, tzadi, kuf).
The ark was constructed from three boxes: a wooden box surrounded by an inner and outer gold box. Furthermore, it had two sets of three: above the ark cover there were two cherubims, angel-like forms facing each other. Under the ark cover, sat the two tablets of the law. These three sets of three relate to the three “mother” letters. The seven branches of the menorah correspond to the seven double letters, while the twelve loaves of showbread relate to the twelve simple letters. This is just one example of many, as to how the construction of the Tabernacle confirms the statement that Bezalel, by knowing the secrets of the letters through which the Almighty created heaven and earth, was able to build the Tabernacle.
This idea further strengthens the tradition that every detail of the Tabernacle represents a microcosm of the macro universe. Here, we have focused on the menorah and its many levels of symbolism. But in various commentaries, this type of deep investigation reveals secret after secret, level after level of symbolic comparisons between the Tabernacle and the mysteries of the physical and spiritual worlds.
When first commanding Israel to build a dwelling place for the Divine, the Torah states: “Build for me a holy place and I will dwell in their place.” Which is interpreted to mean in the heart, mind and soul of each individual. Therefore, it is important to understand how the Tabernacle is not only connected to the outer material and spiritual realms of existence – but more importantly – how each vessel and detail relates to the inner intellectual, emotional and spiritual makeup of a human being. Although this type of exhaustive associative exercise is beyond the scope of this book, we can relate here a few insights regarding the three vessels discussed in this section.
Just as the menorah symbolizes physical and spiritual light in the world, each person needs to manifest the light-giving qualities of the menorah in their inner world, and their ability and even responsibility to emanate and spread that light to all those they encounter. Israel is tasked with being a light unto the nations, but this starts at home. Each individual must first integrate holy, spiritual light in their minds and heart before attempting to shine that light outwards. Thus, the menorah becomes a living beacon of hope and joy on an individual level, as well as the means of how we shine that light out into the world.
The table of the showbread represents nourishment and sustenance. So many of us spend much of our lives striving to earn a living; supporting ourselves and our families. Sometimes this pursuit is a source of great pride and satisfaction when it is done in a profession or job that we love; but other times we work in unsatisfying jobs merely to put food on the table and pay the rent. One of the greatest blessings in life is to love what we do, while one of the greatest “curses” is to work just to survive. This type of curse goes back to Adam after being expelled from the Garden of Eden. The showbread in the Tabernacle certainly symbolizes the potential life-giving qualities of living a productive life that brings us inner joy and satisfaction.
Finally, the ark represents how each and every person needs to be a “walking Torah Scroll” by integrating the teachings of the Torah into a real, live road map for outer action and inner spiritual development. Just as the ark was housed in the Holy of Holies, each person must develop their own internal holy core, where the Torah stands like a Tree of Life, inspiring and invigorating our attitudes and worldview.
Along with learning how to translate and integrate the various particular teachings of how to see the Tabernacle as a means of creating a rich and meaningful inner life, it is imperative in the bigger picture to integrate the initial and all-encompassing teaching that the Almighty is instructing us all to make a dwelling place for Godliness in our very essence. This is, in a sense, the beginning and ultimate goal of all Divine service in this world and gives meaning to life “for all those who grasp on to her.”
