The Paralel Sanctuaries and Creation

The Talmud (Ta'anit 5) teaches that parallel to the city of Jerusalem below in this world there exists a celestial Jerusalem above. In fact R Yohanan notes that God will not even enter the celestial city until he enters the lower one. In this manner our Sages are teaching that the sanctuary that is built on earth has an affinity with a counterpart above. The sanctuary above is said to house the "throne" of God. Consider that the Torah mandates that the sanctuary below must be built following a detailed divine plan to pattern it's celestial counterpart which houses the Divine Presence. Furthermore, the lower sanctuary is not only to pattern itself after the upper, but they both must contribute to unify each other's existence. Hence the prophet (Yishaya 66:1) declares "The heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool." Lastly we must admit - during times when man disrupts the unity and balance in the worlds - the absence of the sanctuary below is reflective of the fact that the divine throne above is apparently deficient.The initial thought of creation was for the lower world in its entirety to act as a lower sanctuary for the divine presence. With the sin of Adam, the unity was disrupted and the earth was no longer to be considered as the lower sanctuary. Our parasha represents a new reality whereby the lower sanctuary would house the presence of Hashem once again on earth. Not on earth! But only in a tent of traveling tabernacle. As history progressed and the unity between the world below and above advanced - the divine presence would be housed in a number of sanctuaries. It should be noted that the celestial structure is not absolute - it changes according to the actions of Israel below (See Zevahim 62) - Hence certain dimensional changes occur in either the vessels or housing which reflect altering spiritual realities. So even the size of the Keruvim of Shelomo do not appear to conform with the biblical standards. (Melakhim I 6:23) - The unifying thread however that is sewn in all of these structures is that they all pattern the contemporary celestial counterpart above as well as the original pattern of earth as a home for the divine presence. Besalel was selected as the chief architect as he had specific spiritual qualities - and the know how - to mimic the divine celestial pattern. Future participants and builders of the sanctuaries and temples would also require these same attributes to foster proper construction.

Realizing the Duality 

At the dedication ceremonies of the first בית המקדש - Shelomo Hamelekh made the claim בנה בניתי בית זבול - I have built a residence - repeating the words - I have built - He indicated that what he accomplished on earth had its effect above - namely that he built parallel temples. R. M. Alshikh teaches that the celestial temple is in the region known as זבול - David had expended much effort to locate the physical cite in  Israel that stands parallel to the celestial temple. The Midrash (BR 69) notes that he knew it was somewhere between the angle formed by the ladder of Yaakov between ירושלים and לוז - The prophet גד told him that it was located in the threshing ground of Arauna the Yebusi. Tehillim 132 describes David's intense desire to locate a permanent home for the שכינה in this world. "I will not enter my house nor will I mount my bed ... until I find a place for the Lord..." He then acknowledges that the location must parallel the celestial position - "We will arrive at his tabernacles" - We will prostrate ourselves (at the sanctuary below) at his footstool. The Midrash (BR 12:12) teaches that when Israel erected the Mishkan - God had told the angels to erect a celestial counterpart.

Sanctuary must Likewise Pattern Creation

During the creative process the whole earth was to act as the receptacle for the divine presence; It behooves us to learn and mimic the process so that we can properly appreciate the fullness of the divine command ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם - Not only must the sanctuary parallel the celestial sanctuary above but the process to build it must conform with that of Creation. As the intent of the Creator was to establish the universe as a receptacle to hold his presence. The sanctuary above is located spiritually at the bottom of the highest world of Asilut. There are ten spiritual channels that comprise this world. The upper three channels חכמה בינה תבונה ודעת Wisdom Understanding & Knowledge - are essential to properly establish the sanctuary in the lowest channel of מלכות דאצילות - The Midrash (BR 12:13) teaches that the construction of the tabernacle was compared to that of the worlds of creation. Hence R. Bahya notes that the opening verses of our Parasha speak of three contributions תרומה- possibly to arouse the three upper channels in the building of the sanctuary. In describing the creative process שלמה המלך - teaches (Mishle 3:19) - God founded the earth with wisdom חכמה - He established the heavens with understanding בינה תבונה - By his knowledge דעת - the depths broke up. The Torah teaches (31) that בצלאל was selected as the sanctuary master craftsmen as he was endowed with these upper three channels "With Wisdom Understanding and Knowledge" This of course is related to the Talmudic (Berakhot 55) teaching that he was able to combine letters of the  אלף בית - This is more than a hint that he maintained a skill parallel to that used in the creative process. This quality also being necessary in established the Mikdash below.

Sanctuary Must Follow Pattern Above 

As creation was founded upon the upper three channels - so the sanctuary and its craftsmen were required to manifest these qualities. R. Bahya cites the Pirke DeRibbi Eliezer (3) that שלמה employed all three to build the first temple. The Midrash (Mekhilta 7:14) teaches that Hiram who assisted שלמה - was endowed with חכמה תבונה ודעת - as did שלמה and בצלאל -  In the future when the third temple will be built the same attributes will also be employed in its construction. The precise wording is found in Mishle 24:3 - "A house built by Wisdom - it is established thru Understanding - Its rooms are filled with Knowledge."

The Future Temple Must also be Built with these Attributes 

The idea that the construction must have followed the divine plan during the first temple is clear from Divre HaYamim 1 - 28:19 - "Everything is in writing. By the hand of ה׳ - which he gave me (David) understanding to know all the works of the plan." The Hinukh counts the building of the Temple as the first Misva of our parasha. It is Misva that it in force when the majority of Israel are settled in our homeland. It is precisely imposed upon the community and not the individual. Since it must parallel the sanctuary above - in a new exalted state - we Israel will be endowed with the three upper attributes as promised in Mishle 2:6. "For the Lord will grant Wisdom - From his mouth knowledge and understanding. The participation in it's building includes this prerequisite! We must actively seek attainment of these attributes - which obviously includes our obligation to penetrate the depths of the Torah. The Midrash (Tanhuma Vayakhel 2) teaches that God had filled בצלאל with wisdom because he already possessed it. So must we actively seek to possess חב״ד - The prophet Yishaya 11:2 has promised that as our messenger - the King Mashiah will also be granted the qualities given to Besalel - "A spirit of Wisdom חכמה - and understanding תבונה - a spirit of knowledge דעת - He along with the community of Israel must attain and first draw dawn the upper three spiritual channels called חב״ד and only then will we be able to display the spiritual propensity to build the Temple. Let it be established speedily in our days Amen.
 

Victor Bibi