Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Teruma – Chamishi: The Paroches and Masach (Thursday, 2nd Adar)

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Chamishi

  1. The Paroches:
  • The material: You shall make a Paroches of Ticheiles wool, Argamon wool, scarlet wool, and twisted linen. It is to be the work of an artist.
  • The beams which hold the Paroches: The Paroches is to be placed on four pillars of acacia-shittim wood which are covered with gold. The pillars are to contain golden hooks and contain four silver socket. The Paroches is to be hung on those hooks.
  • Its location: The Paroches and its beams are to be placed between the Kodesh and Kodesh Hakedoshim, where the Aron and its Kapores covering is kept. The Shulchan and Menorah are to be placed outside the Paroches, the Shulchan being positioned in the northern side and the Menorah on the southern side.
  1. The Masach screen in front of the Kodesh:
  • You shall make a screen for the entrance to the Ohel.
  • The material: It is to be made of Ticheiles Turquoise wool, Argamon Purple wool, scarlet wool, and twisted linen. It is to be the work of an embroiderer.
  • The beams which hold the Masach: You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia shittim wood which are covered with gold. The pillars are to contain golden hooks and contain five copper socket.

Rashi Q&A — Shemot 26:31–37

 

26:31 — The Paroches (Curtain)

Q1. What does the word “Paroches” mean according to Rashi?

A: A partition, like a royal divider between king and people (called pargod in Chazal).

 

Q2. How were the materials of the Paroches spun?

A: Each thread contained six strands of each material—techeiles, argaman, scarlet, and linen.

 

Q3. What does “ma’aseh choshev” mean?

A: Woven work producing different images on each side — not embroidery.

 

Q4. What were the “keruvim” on the Paroches?

A: Designs of various creatures woven into it.

 

26:32 — The Pillars and Hooks

Q5. How many pillars held the Paroches?

A: Four pillars of acacia wood.

 

Q6. What were the hooks on the pillars called and why?

A: Vavim — because they were shaped like the Hebrew letter ו.

 

Q7. What were the pillars set into?

A: Four silver bases.

 

Q8. Where was the Paroches positioned within the Mishkan?

A: At one‑third of the Mishkan’s length, making a 10×10 cubit Holy of Holies.

 

Q9. How does “under the clasps” explain the placement?

A: The clasps joined the two 20‑cubit tapestry sets, marking the boundary for placing the Curtain.

 

26:33 — Separation of Kodesh and Kodesh HaKedoshim

Q10. What was the purpose of the Paroches?

A: To separate the Sanctuary from the Holy of Holies.

 

26:34 — Placing the Aron

Q11. Where was the Kapores placed?

A: On top of the Aron inside the Holy of Holies.

 

 

 

26:35 — Placement of the Shulchan and Menorah

Q12. Where was the Shulchan placed according to Rashi?

A: On the north side, 2.5 cubits from the wall.

 

Q13. Where was the Menorah placed?

A: On the south side, 2.5 cubits from the wall.

 

Q14. Where was the Golden Altar placed?

A: Between the Shulchan and Menorah, slightly eastward.

 

Q15. In which part of the Mishkan were these vessels placed?

A: In the outer chamber, the section outside the Paroches.

 

Q16. How far were they from the entrance?

A: 10 cubits.

 

26:36 — The Masach (Entrance Screen)

Q17. What does “Masach” mean?

A: A protective curtain — related to “You protected him” (sachta ba’ado).

 

Q18. What was the craft type for the Masach?

A: Ma’aseh rokem — embroidery, done by needlework.

 

Q19. What is “rokeym” according to Rashi?

A: The name of the artisan, not the craft.

 

Q20. What was the size of the Masach?

A: 10 cubits by 10 cubits (same as the Paroches).

 

26:37 — The Screen Pillars

Q21. How many pillars held the Masach?

A: Five pillars of acacia wood.

 

Q22. How were these pillars finished?

A: Overlaid with gold.

 

Q23. What were the hooks made of?

A: Gold.

 

Q24. What material were the bases made of?

A: Copper.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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