Parsha Pearls

וְנָתַתָה אֹתֹו לִפְנֵי הַפָרֹכֶת ...

And you should place it (the golden mizbe’ach) in front of the paroches...(Shemos 30:6)

The Shulchan was on the north side of the Mishkan. The Menorah was on the south side of the Mishkan. The Golden Mizbeach was placed between them, in the middle of the Mishkan. The Shulchan with the 12 loaves of Lechem HaPanim represent our involvement in the physical aspects of life. The Menorah with the 7 candles represent our involvement in the spiritual aspects of life.

The Golden Mizbe’ach was the central point of the Kodesh area of the Mishkan. Upon it, a kohen would offer the incense offering, which was ריח נחוח לשם - “a pleasant aroma for Hashem”. It teaches us that when a Jew is doing anything, whether it’s part of the physical or the spiritual aspect of his life, he should find “the central point in his heart”—i.e., the point of connection between him and Hashem in this activity through which he will be doing the activity in a way that it will be “a pleasant aroma for Hashem”.