399- The Tabernacle of the Testimony

“These are the numbered things of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony.” RASHI interpreted “the tabernacle of the testimony” as a testimony to Israel that the Creator forgave them the incident of the calf, for He “installed His Shechina [Divinity] among them.” There, in Daat Zkenim, he brings another view, that it was a testimony to Moses. This is so because when he was suspected of stealing Shekalim from the work of the tabernacle, Moses said to them, “I want the tabernacle to be a testimony, and they recounted and found that they were placed in the hooks for the pillars.

Maimonides says, “How is repentance? Until He knows the mysteries will testify that he will not return to folly.” The question people ask is if a person can ask the Creator to testify to him, so that by this he will know that his repentance is worthy. Baal HaSulam explained that if a person has achieved repentance, where his only aim is to bestow, the spirit of the Creator immediately lies upon him.

Back to top