by
Rabbi Michael Laitner

Parshat Terumah

This week’s Torah Thought features a specially requested question by the ‘Shiur and Beer’ group in the Wellington Pub.

Q: The Torah (Shemot 25:18) commands that Keruvim (Cherubim - male and female figures) be placed on the top edges of the cover of the Ark in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Why does this not transgress the prohibition against idolatry mentioned in the Ten Commandments (Shemot 20:3-6), or the prohibition of making gods of silver and gold (Shemot 20:20) which the commentators explain refers to making idols of familiar religious items by changing their proscribed use, citing the Keruvim as an example?

A: Rabbi Chizkiya ben Manoach, a mid-thirteenth century French commentator, also known as Chizkuni, writes that the Keruvim are an example of how the Torah forbade certain behaviour in general, but mandated it in specific circumstances. For example, the action of Berit Mila (circumcision) is a clear violation of the laws of Shabbat, but since the Torah specifically commands that, health permitting, a circumcision take place on the 8^th day after a boy's birth, this positive injunction overrides the prohibitions of Shabbat (see Vayikra 12:3). Similarly, the Keruvim would be prohibited if they had not been commanded by G-d.

Furthermore, there was no command to bow down to them as if they were idols. Rather, they sat on the top of the Ark’s cover, reminiscent of the vision of G-d’s throne of glory as seen by the prophet Isaiah (6:1-2). Thus, the Keruvim remind us of our obligations to G-d, and of the responsibilities of our relationship with G-d and with humans, a message so central that it was displayed on top of the Ark.

If you have a question, please send it to Michael@southhampstead.org No answers guaranteed! Hard questions to Rabbi Shlomo!

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