Parashat Terumah, The Glory of God Reveals the Need for Blood Atonement

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 This week’s Parashah, Parashat Terumah (Shemot / Exodus 25:1-27:19) the Lord tells Moshe to tell the Sons of Yisrael to raise a contribution for the Lord (25:1, דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ-לִי תְּרוּמָה מֵאֵת כָּל-אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ תִּקְחוּ אֶת-תְּרוּמָתִי) of gold, silver, and bronze, linen materials, goat hair, rams skins, and acacia wood.  The word Terumah (תְּרוּמָה) is derived from the word תרם meaning “to donate or contribute.”  Terumat Hamaaser and Terumah Gedola (types of heave offerings) were the offerings that were the possession of the Cohanim (Priests) and could be eaten by themselves and their families.  The Terumah obligatory offering that the Lord is asking here in this week’s study is for the purpose of the construction of the Mishkhan (Tabernacle).  It is within the Mishkhan that the various sacrifices (Korbanot, קָרְבֳּנוֹת) are to be offered by the Cohanim consisting of animals such as sheep, bulls, goats, doves (for the poor), grain (Mincha), wine, and incense.  The Lord then asks that a sanctuary (Mishkhan) be made so that He can dwell among them (25:8).  The Lord shows Moshe the pattern of the tabernacle and the furniture for the tabernacle (25:9-27:19).  The construction of the Ark of the Covenant is given in 25:10-22.  It is interesting here that the Lord instructs Moshe to construct the mercy seat upon the ארון הברית (Ark of the Covenant) making the image of two Cherubim (כְּרֻבִים).  Two Parshiot ago, in Parashat Yitro, in the giving of the Ten Commandments (עשרת הדברות) we find the command to make no graven images.  However, in today’s Parashah we find God instructing to construct two Cherubim to be placed upon the Mercy Seat the cover of the Ark of the Covenant.  Is this a violation of His own mitzvah (command) or is there something special that the Lord is trying to show us concerning the Mercy Seat? Read More here.

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Duane D. Miller received his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron Ohio. He is currently a Chemical Engineering Researcher. Duane’s research expertise has focused upon functional materials development for the control, conversion, and release of process gases in Energy production technologies. His R&D interests include computational chemistry, developing novel technologies for converting biomass to fuels and studying their fundamental interactions during the chemical conversion process. His past experience includes sorbent development for pre- and post-combustion CO2 and SO2 capture, selective absorption of H2S from methane streams, O2 capture for oxy-fuel combustion, photocatalytic reduction of alcohols, NOx reduction catalysis, the development of oxygen carriers to combust fossil fuels (CH4 and coal) for the chemical looping combustion processes, and the extraction of rare earth elements using patent pending sorbents. His research expertise has focused on operando-characterization using Infrared, Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopy to observe the nature of the catalytic active sites and reaction intermediates under realistic reaction conditions, allowing direct correlation of molecular/electronic structures with catalyst performance during Gas-Solid / Liquid-Solid Adsorption and Photocatalytic Processes with real time online analysis of reaction products using ICP-MS and mass spectrometry. His current work involves a multi-disciplinary approach to developing, understanding, and improving the catalytic gasification of coal and methane, high temperature chemical looping combustion, and the catalytic decomposition and gasification of biomass and coal using novel microwave reactor.​ He has been studying the Hebrew Scriptures and the Torah for 20+ years and sharing what he has learned. The studies developed for MATSATI.COM are freely to be used by everyone, to God be the Glory!