The following note is excerpted from The Book of Our Heritage--the wonderful English translation of Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov’s, Z’tl, classic Sefer HaToda’ah: The last seven days of Adar--beginning yesterday from the twenty-third of Adar until Rosh Chodesh Nisan--are known to us all as the "Yemai HaMiluim" the Days of Dedication." It was then that Moshe Rabbeinu dedicated the Mishkan after its construction. During these seven Days of Dedication, Moshe Rabbeinu alone served as the Kohen. Every day he would build the Mishkan; bring the daily Karbanos, eat from the Karbanos as commanded and after performing the Avodas Hayom, take the Mishkan apart.

The Sefer HaToda’ah brings from the Medrash that these Days of Dedication of the first Mishkan constructed by Moshe Rabbeinu are destined to be repeated when the Moshiach comes. Thus, the Days of Dedication serve as a memorial to the Mishkan made by Moshe--as well as a special time of prayer for the Final Redemption and the building of the Bais HaMikdash in which the Shechina will dwell eternally.

Practical Suggestion: We must make these very special days more palpable to us. Chazal teach that Moshe Rabbeinu composed the last Pasuk of Tehillim Chapter 90 (Vihi Noam) as well as Chapter 91 (Yoshev BeSeser Elyon) on the day that he completed the Mishkan. Chapter 91 teaches us that just as Moshe Rabbeinu, upon entering the Mishkan was enveloped in and protected by the shadow of Hashem, so, too, can we, when placing our faith and trust in Hashem, be protected by Hashem’s shadow. This Shabbos, and over the next week (at least once daily in Kriyas Shema Al HaMitah) when we recite these hallowed words of Moshe Rabbeinu, let us fill them with our heartfelt Kavannah of Emunah Shleimah...and an impassioned plea that we be able to recite these words again within a clearly defined shadow--the confines of the third and everlasting Bais HaMikdash. May it come speedily in the coming days!

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Hakhel MIS

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