TERUMAH 1978

The very structure of the Tabernacle demonstrates that. our knowledge is limited.  Until recently most educated people. could not pray because praying was silly.  A person in order to improve his lot had to learn how to get into harmony with the laws of physics, psychology, sociology, etc. G‑d may have started the universe but now he is in Miami on a vacation.  It is senseless to pray to Him except to express thanks or appreciation.  He could not change anything even if He wanted to.  Today we know better.  Scientific laws are not reality.  They are only constructs.  The basic thrust of prayer is a cry for help.  We need help in order just to perceive reality.  This means that we cannot rely on intellect alone to form judgments.  In a way this is a dangerous concept because how are we to determine whether what we think is right or wrong?  That's where the Holy of Holies comes in.  In the Holy of Holies as the Ten Commandments and on top of the Ten Commandments was a cover which had the shape of two children embracing with their wings ascending to heaven.  In order to tell whether something is right it must be based on the Ten Commandments.  If it violates them it is wrong.  It also must be good for children and it must lead to joy and happiness, to experiences which elevate and cause us to be more than ourselves.  It mast also have warmth and a sense of humility.  Anyone who feels he knows everything should be suspect.  People who think they know everything usually know nothing.

The story about three people about to be guillotined, a Frenchman, an Englishman, and an Aggie.  They asked the Frenchman if he had any last words.  He said, "Viva la France".  Then they let the guillotine go.  It stopped two inches from his head.  Since a person cannot be guillotined twice he was let go.  They asked the Englishman if he had any last words.  He said "G‑d save the Queen" and again the guillotine stopped two inches above his head and he was let go.  They then asked the Aggie if he had any last words.  He said, "You know, if you fix the knot in the rope the guillotine will work".