"For the Cloud of Hashem was upon the Tabernacle by day

How can one see the Holy Temple even in this day and age? What is the secret of the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire? And how does the Name of Hashem constantly rest upon every Jew? Torah insights and pearls for the weekly Torah portion of Pekudei from the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days)

"The Spirit of Moshe is the Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire":

"The Zohar says that even though we do not see the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) with our physical eyes, the Temple is alive and exists, standing in its place. One who has spiritual eyes can see the Temple. If we were worthy, the Zohar says there is a certain powder (puch), and whoever merits it and applies it to their eyes can see the Temple standing in its place! It is still surrounded by a cloud of fire! As it is written at the end of this Torah portion (Pekudei)—we are about to read 'Chazak Chazak V'nischazek' (Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened), everyone will read the portion until Shabbat and complete it. It says at the end of the portion: 'For the cloud of Hashem was upon the Tabernacle by day, and fire would be on it by night, before the eyes of all the House of Israel throughout all their journeys.' If we were worthy, we would see clouds of fire surrounding Jerusalem, surrounding the Temple, and surrounding the Land of Israel. For that which protects the Land of Israel is only clouds of fire, the Ananei HaKavod (Clouds of Glory). They surround the Land of Israel and protect it from every adversary and accuser (mastin). This is the meaning of 'For the cloud of Hashem was upon the Tabernacle by day, and fire would be on it by night, before the eyes of all the House of Israel throughout all their journeys.' Now, 'Esh Tihyeh Yomam' (fire shall be by day)—the final letters of these words spell 'Moshe' (משה). 'Yomam' ends in Mem (מ), 'Esh' ends in Shin (ש), and 'Tihyeh' ends in Heh (ה). This teaches that the spirit of Moshe is the Pillar of Fire. The phrase 'V'esh Tihyeh Lailah' (and fire shall be by night) also has final letters that spell 'Moshe.' The spirit of Moshe was the Pillar of Fire! 'Behold the bed of Shlomo, sixty mighty men surround it'—the initials of 'Hinei Mitaso She'lishlomo' (הנה מיטתו שלשלמה) also spell 'Moshe.' This is the soul of Moshe, which surrounds us day and night! It is the Pillar of Fire that surrounds us!"

"Every Jew is the Name of Hashem (Havayah)"

Therefore, a person must be courageous, full of momentum, energy, and power. When one learns Gemara (Talmud), they become filled with power! The Gemara gives us the power, the strength, and the fire from Above! Every letter in the Gemara is a flaming fire! These are letters of fire—black fire upon white fire! Every letter in the Gemara is a fire that fills our hearts! Consequently, we go forth burning—'by day and fire shall be by night'—this is the Pillar of Fire! 'The Pillar of Cloud by day and fire shall be by night.' 'Hashem our Master, how mighty is Your Name in all the earth.' 'And the nations shall fear the Name of Hashem and all the kings of the earth Your glory.' 'And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the Name of Hashem is called upon you, and they shall fear you.' The Name of Hashem should be upon us! The Name of Hashem should be within us! This comes to teach us that every name of every Jew is the Name of Havayah (the Tetragrammaton)—it is the Name of Hashem! Every Jew who has a holy name, it is called the Name of Havayah! It is called the Name of Hashem! 'See, I have called by name, Bezalel'—this is the Name of Hashem!

(Tape 237, Thursday Parshat Pekudei, 2nd of Adar II, 5760 - Lesson for the Shadarim Kollel in Bat Yam, at the Rav's house in the Third Wall)

The lesson underwent editing; if an error occurred, do not attribute it G-d forbid to our teacher the Rav shlit"a, but to the writer, "and with us resides our error."

The painting is courtesy of the artist R' Yehoshua Wiseman. For purchase: www.yehoshuawiseman.com

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