Yesterday we mentioned the main topic of the weekly Torah portion “Terumah” {תרומה} relates to the instructions for the building the Tabernacle. This week’s “Hafatarh” {הפטרה} (weekly Prophet’s portion) is found in the Book of I Kings, chapters 5-6 and describes the building of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.
The connection between the “parashah” {פרשה} (weekly Torah portion) and the “Haftarah” (weekly Prophet’s portion) is very clear and does not require further explanations. I would like to point out one fascinating thing that appears in both biblical parts by drawing a comparison between them: “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” (Exodus 25:8)
And now the concluding verse of the “Haftarah”: “And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.” (I Kings 6:13)
In the English translation one cannot see the ‘hidden meaning’ of the biblical text. This can only be seen in the original Hebrew – there the word “dwell” (appears as ‘Shachantee” {שכנתי} in Hebrew) which plays an important role in both segments, shares the same Hebrew root as the word Tabernacle (“Mishkan” {משכן}) which simply means in Hebrew ‘dwelling’ or ‘residence.’ And on top of that, both of these Hebrew words share the same root as the Hebrew word for the “Divine spirit” (“Shekinah” {שכינה}).
*The Hebrew root is: ש.כ.נ