From the Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Zt”l
The Torah portion of Teruma contains the commandment "And you shall make two cherubim of gold." The cherubim were placed atop the Ark of Testimony in the Sanctuary, which contained the Tablets of the Covenant.
What did the cherubim look like? Our Sages offer several opinions. Rashi describes the cherubim as "having the face of a baby." Nachmanides maintains they had the form of "the chariot that was seen by Ezekiel."
The Intense Revelation of the Divine Presence
Rashi's explanation is based on a passage in the Talmud that depicts the cherubim as looking like a boy and a girl facing each other, symbolic of G-d's love for the Jewish people. When G-d spoke to Moses, the Divine voice issued from between the two cherubim, as it states, "And I will speak with you from above the Ark cover, from between the two cherubim that are upon the Ark of the Testimony." This was the place of the most intense revelation of the Divine Presence.
In general, Rashi's commentary explains the Torah's "literal" meaning, whereas Nachmanides' interpretations are more mystical and esoteric. Nachmanides thus describes the cherubim according to their deeper, spiritual significance, i.e., as resembling the "chariot" seen by the Prophet Ezekiel, while Rashi gives us the simple facts, i.e., that the cherubim had the face of a baby.
However, it is Rashi's literal interpretation that best expresses the depth of the connection between the Jew and G-d. Our Sages say that the idea of creating the Jewish people occurred to G-d before He thought of creating the Torah, as it were. In other words, the love that G-d has for the Jews transcends and is "higher" than the Torah. G-d loves the Jewish people with the kind of love a parent feels for his child, which is independent of the child's conduct or actions.
The Inner Bond Between the Jewish People and G-d
This is reflected in the fact that physically, the cherubim were placed on top of the Ark of Testimony, which contained the Ten Commandments. For the inner bond between the Jewish people and G-d, which is derived from their essence, is above even the Torah itself.
This also helps explain why the innermost level of a Jew's bond with G-d remains unaffected even if he sins and transgresses the Torah's commandments, G-d forbid (as opposed to the more external aspects of their relationship, which sustain damage).
Lastly, in emphasizing the indestructible connection between the Jew and G-d, the cherubim and kaporet (covering over the Ark) achieved atonement for the Jewish people, as alluded to in the word itself (kaporet is related to kapara - atonement).
Reprinted from the Parshat Terumah 5761/2001 edition of L’Chaim Weekly. Adapted from Likutei Sichot, vol 26.
“On the Shulchan / Table you shall place Lechem Ha’panim [literally, ‘bread of faces’] before Me, always.” (25:30)
Rashi says It had surfaces or faces. A person was able to almost see himself in the bread. How one looked at the bread, is the way the bread appeared to the person. If he looked at the bread with belief and a pure heart then the person saw the miracles of the bread. A week after it was placed on the table, it was still ‘hot out of the oven’.
If on the other hand a person looked at the bread as a non-believer and with a cold heart, then the bread appeared as old spoiled moldy bread. Rashi says in Parshas Emor about the person who cursed Hashem he made fun and said isn’t it normal for a king to eat fresh bread every day, should he eat cold nine-day old bread? He was only able to see old spoiled moldy bread. (Admor MiGur)
Reprinted from the Parshat Terumah 5784 email of R’ Yedidye Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parsha sheet for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn.
