Perashat Vayakhel & the Mishkan

By Victor Bibi Vayakhel

The Secret of the Kiyor (Washstand)

The structure of the Mishkan resembles the heavenly abode, while the vessels found therein are the physical expressions of certain spiritual channels in the highest of the celestial worlds. R. Yoseph Karo in his mystical diary - Magid Mesharim (Ki Tisa) asserts that the Kiyor manifests the last and final emanation of the world of Asilut - associated with the Shehina - or the Divine Presence  - the Spiritual female mother of Israel. This level represents the spiritual interface between the 9 upper sub- channels above it and the three lower worlds below it. It is essential to appreciate the Kiyor's celestial root above to unlock the code of the Torah and Sages which depict the washstand in feminine terms. With this in mind we shall explore the scriptural position of the Kiyor amongst the other vessels; its exclusive female donators; the spiritual purpose of the wash basin and its method of transport in the desert. Finally we will seek to appreciate Moshe's hesitancy in accepting the "mirror donations" for the Kiyor from the women - until admonished by God for not doing so.

The Mishkan: A Reenacment of Creation 

Our Sages teach that the 6 days of creation represented God's so to say initial attempt to establish the world as a dwelling place for his presence. It was disrupted with the sin of Adam - realized again at Har Sinai and disrupted a second time with the sin of the golden calf. The building of the Mishkan represented the realization again of the divine presence having a home on earth - albeit in a manner more confined than originally intended at creation. The Torah portions of Tesaveh, Terumah and finally Ki Tisa detail God's commands to Moshe concerning the construction of the Mishkan, its vessels and the priestly clothing. The final instructions found in Ki Tisa are of the Kiyor. Oddly enough in Vayakhel - Moshe commands Israel regarding the earlier instructions with the final item made being the Kiyor. The verses in Ki Tisa begin "Make a copper (brass) washstand... to be used לרחצה - here the Torah uses a feminine verb "To wash". It continues "They (Kohanim) must wash their hands and feet in order to spare themselves from death והיתה להם - again the Torah inserts a feminine expression - This shall be for (Aharon) and his seed a law for all time...In the verses from Vayakhel it describes the Kiyor as being made from the mirrors of the dedicated women. The Kiyor represents the final female vessel made prior to the dwelling of the Shehina - At the close of the 6 days of creation - the last vessel to be formed prior to the dwelling of the shekhina on earth was the woman - As Havah represented the final vessel similar to the Kiyor 2448 years later.

The Spirituality of Women is to be Hidden 

All of the Mishkan's vessels were transported via the Badim or poles with the exception of the Kiyor. Our commentators have reasoned that while other vessels were used in the service of the Mishkan the Kiyor was only a vehicle to allow the service to take place. While this is certainly so - We can continue on the path that the Kiyor and its transport must include its proper feminine path as per its spiritual root. The Talmud (Yoma 37) relates that Ben Katin a Kohen Gadol of second temple era created a mechanical device to lower the Kiyor each evening into a spring-fed well in the Temple courtyard. R. B. Rosenblum cites R. Soroskin (Oznayim LaTorah) that similarly in the desert the Kiyor would descend into the well of Miryam during its transport. This once again conforming to the spiritual root of the Holy female of modesty.

The Interface to Ascend Above Without Incurring Death

The Kiyor is spiritually associated with the interace between the lower worlds of impurity and the upper 9 channels of the highest world of Asilut which is pure. The service of the Kohanim in the Mishkan requires them to ascend spiritually from the lower to the upper. They must make use of the interface to spiritual sanctify themselves as they ascend. The Torah warns that one cannot enter the holy confines (or perform service related to the higher world) without cleansing the hands and feet. Passing the interface (or similar vessel) without washing can bring death upon the Kohen. R.SR Hirsch explains that as the bodies of the Kohanim must be clothed - so that hands and feet which are exposed - must have holy water poured onto them to cloth them. The Ramban and after him R. Bahya assert that the washing of the 10 fingers and toes is an illusion to emanations of the highest world where the service will take place. Hence Onkelos translates the word רחצו as they shall sanctify - to signify the passage via the interface into the highest world.

The Mirrors of Dedicated Women

It should be obvious to us now why it was only this vessel that was made exclusively from the donations from the dedicated women of Israel. R. Bahya asserts that the mirrors were made of highly polished copper and were extremely shiny. Ramban earlier had claimed that that it was made of burnished brass that was magnificently brilliant. Why these adjectives? Some commentators note that the mirrors themselves were used without the need to being melt down. It is obvious according to our path that mirrors are almost exclusively associated with women as the halakha restricts its use by men. Why the need for the Kiyor to practically reflect or shine? R. HaAri (SL Vayakhel) explains that when men would bring their korbanot to the courtyard the Kohanim who were spiritually adept would look at the face of the doner to determine where he was spiritually deficient and assist with his Tikun. This was not possible concerning the women - so the kohen would rather look at the Kiyor and see her reflection to determine her deficiency and to assist her with an appropriate Tikun. Hence - we have abundant proofs confirming the assertion of R. Yoseph Karo as to the spiritual root of the Kiyor being exclusively feminine.

An Additional Thought on Moshe Initially Rejecting the Mirrors

 
The Midrash (Tanhuma Pikude 9) notes that Moshe was initially appalled that mirrors which had previously been used to arouse carnal instincts of the husbands should become vessels from which priests wash themselves prior to their service. God told Moshe that these mirrors were especially dear to him more so than other objects being donated. Had there not been for these which women made themselves attractive to husbands - there would not have been a sufficient number of Israel at Har Sinai to qualify for revelation - tablets and Torah - This is reflected in the term צבאות - that they managed to raise armies. Moshe's concerns however do appear justified. With the victory of (King) David over Golyat - he was enriched as the Benot Yisrael threw valuables at him upon his victory. He gathered the funds and set them aside to build the Bet Hamikdash. We are told in Divre Hayamim 1 - 22 that David's tremendous wealth he acquired was not used by his son King Shelomo but was set aside in a Temple storehouse. So King David was not only to refrain from building the Temple but the money he intended to dedicate from the women was refused by God. R. Y. Eibishitz (Yaarot Devash) writes that King David was refused as the builder and dedicator for the same reason. Based on the Midrash (YS malakhim 186) the applicable verse is ידך דמים מלאו - that his hands were full of blood! The Talmud (Berakhot 3) teaches that the Sages of Israel approached King David with the fact that poor of Israel can no longer survive the three year famine. King David offered advise that the people should take care of each other or that they should set out for war against the foreign legions who had access to Jewish food. The Rabbi quoting the Midrash says that at that point - King David had an obligation to do Hatarat Nedarim and use the stored dedicated treasures to feed the poor of Israel. God declared my children are starving and you are worrying about my house? I think the message is powerful - Hashem is more concerned that we take care of our fellow above and beyond his needs... and maybe so should we. So God was telling Moshe that these women are part of the host of Israel - their objectives are to benefit their fellow Jews. Hence it is they who stand at and support the interface - the entranceway to the Ohel Mo'ed.