An Outline of the Rebbe's Explanation of Rashi
Parshas Tetzaveh
Likkutei Sichos Volume 31, Pages 142 – 148
Rashi in His Own Words
שמות כ"ה, ה': םיִטִּשׁ יֵצֲﬠַו םיִשָׁחְתּ תֹרֹעְו םיִמָדָּאְמ םִליֵא תֹרֹעְו:
רש"י ד"ה ועצי שטים: מאין היו להם במדבר ,פירש רבי תנחומא יעקב אבינו צפה ברוח הקודש ,שעתידין ישראל לבנות משכן במדבר ,והביא ארזים למצרים ונטעם ,וצוה לבניו ליטלם עמהם ,כשיצאו ממצרים:
Shemos 25:5: ram skins dyed red, tachash skins, and acacia wood;
Rashi Heading - and acacia wood: Where did they get these [trees] in the desert? Rabbi Tanchumah explained that our father Yaakov, with the Holy Spirit, foresaw that the Israelites would build a Mishkan in the desert. He brought cedars to Egypt and planted them. He commanded his sons to take them with them when they left Egypt.
Synopsis
In this week's Torah portion, Terumah, Hashem commands us to build the Mishkan. Hashem commanded us to "separate an offering" that should be "taken for Me." Hashem then tells us to take specific items to build the Mishkan. Among the things was acacia wood. Rashi comments on "and acacia wood" as follows. "Where did they get these (trees) in the desert? Rabbi Tanchumah explained that our father Yaakov foresaw prophetically that the Jews would build a Mishkan in the desert, so he brought cedars to Egypt and planted them. He commanded his progeny to take them with them when they left Egypt."
Why does Rashi find Rabbi Tanchumah's explanation necessary? Why can't he say that the Jews bought wood from local merchants in the wilderness?
The explanation is that G-d did not say to "give" an offering, implying that each Jew is to acquire the appropriate items and give them to those in charge of building the Mishkan. Instead, He said to "take" an offering, i.e., separate it from what we already had. The treasurers of the Tabernacle would then come and take the items from us. Therefore, Rashi cites Rabbi Tanchumah's explanation. All the Jews owned vast amounts of gold and silver for the treasurers to take. We received these treasures when we left Egypt and when we crossed the Red Sea. However, why would we carry lumber into the wilderness, even if it were available? Therefore, Rashi explains that Yaakov prepared us for this when we left Israel for Egypt.
This is still quite difficult to explain! Why would Yaakov have to start preparing wood over 200 years before the building of the Mishkan? Why did he need to bring the trees from Israel and replant them in Egypt?
The answer is that it was to offer consolation to the Jews for their bitter slavery. We knew that we would be slaves in Egypt and that Hashem promised to redeem us and have us build a Mishkan. However, removing the trees from Israel (which symbolizes redemption) and replanting them in Egypt provided a concrete sign of the ultimate Exodus from Egypt.
