"Terumah — Part VIII — “וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם”: Living with the Presence of Hashem Today"

8.3 — The Ladder of the Mishkan

A Structure with a Direction

At first glance, the Mishkan appears to be a collection of vessels and structures. But Abarbanel explains that the order of its components is not random. It is a carefully arranged sequence, a map of human life and spiritual development.

The Mishkan is not only a sanctuary in space.
It is a ladder of ascent.

From the outer courtyard to the innermost chamber, each element represents a stage in the journey of the soul.

The Torah begins with the Ark, then moves to the Table, the Menorah, the Altars, and the courtyard. This order reflects a philosophical progression from the highest spiritual reality down into the physical world—and then back upward again.

The Ark: The Center of Reality

At the heart of the Mishkan stands the Ark, which contains the Luchos. This is the first vessel described, and it is placed in the innermost chamber, the Kodesh HaKodashim.

Abarbanel explains that the Ark represents the highest level of human existence: the intellect filled with Divine wisdom.

The Torah is the source of truth. It is the foundation of life. By placing the Ark at the center, the Mishkan teaches that everything begins with Torah.

The journey of life starts with knowledge of the Divine will.

The Table: The Realm of Sustenance

After the Ark, the Torah describes the Table, which holds the showbread. This represents the material dimension of life.

Human beings require food, shelter, and material support. The Table symbolizes the world of physical sustenance and economic activity.

But in the Mishkan, the Table stands near the Ark. This placement teaches that material life must be guided by Torah.

Sustenance is not an end in itself.
It is part of a larger spiritual structure.

The Menorah: The Light of Understanding

The Menorah represents light, insight, and awareness. It symbolizes the human capacity for understanding and contemplation.

After the Table, the Menorah introduces a higher dimension. It represents the refinement of the intellect and the illumination of the soul.

In Abarbanel’s framework, this suggests that once material needs are met, the person must pursue understanding. Life is not only about survival. It is about enlightenment.

The Menorah teaches that knowledge must grow into wisdom.

The Altar: The Transformation of Action

Moving outward from the inner chamber, the Mishkan reaches the altars. These are places of action, offering, and transformation.

The altars represent the world of deeds. They are where physical substances are elevated through service.

In Abarbanel’s philosophical reading, this stage represents the transformation of human behavior. Knowledge and understanding must lead to action.

A person does not achieve holiness through thought alone. He must act. He must transform his physical life into a vehicle for service.

The altar symbolizes this transformation.

The Courtyard: The World of Human Life

Beyond the altars lies the courtyard. This is the outermost space of the sanctuary. It represents the realm of ordinary human life—the world of movement, interaction, and daily activity.

The courtyard is open, visible, and accessible. It is the space where the people gather and where the service is carried out.

In Abarbanel’s ladder, this represents the starting point of human experience. Life begins in the outer world, among material concerns and physical realities.

From there, the person must move inward.

The Ascent of the Soul

The Mishkan’s structure can be read in two directions.

From the inside out, it shows how Divine wisdom flows into the physical world:

• The Ark represents Torah.
• The Table represents sustenance.
• The Menorah represents understanding.
• The Altar represents action.
• The Courtyard represents daily life.

But from the outside in, it shows the ascent of the human soul:

• A person begins in the courtyard of ordinary life.
• He brings his actions to the altar.
• He refines his mind through the light of the Menorah.
• He aligns his material life with the Table.
• He reaches the Ark, the center of Divine wisdom.

This inward movement represents the spiritual journey of a lifetime.

The Goal: The Eternal Soul

Abarbanel explains that the ultimate purpose of this journey is the perfection of the soul. The intellect, filled with Divine wisdom, becomes the part of the person that endures beyond physical life.

The Ark, hidden in the innermost chamber, represents this eternal dimension.

All the outer layers—material life, action, and even physical understanding—are stages along the path. The ultimate goal is the alignment of the intellect with the Divine.

The Mishkan becomes a map of eternity.

Application for Today — Living Life as an Ascent

Modern life often feels fragmented. People move from one activity to another without a clear sense of direction. Work, entertainment, and responsibilities compete for attention.

The Mishkan offers a different vision. It presents life as a structured ascent.

A person can see his life as a journey:

• Daily responsibilities represent the courtyard.
• Acts of kindness and discipline represent the altar.
• Study and reflection represent the Menorah.
• Responsible material life represents the Table.
• Deep Torah knowledge represents the Ark.

Each stage builds on the one before it. Each dimension has its place.

When life is lived in this way, it becomes more than a series of disconnected events. It becomes a ladder, leading the soul upward.

The Mishkan teaches that every part of life has meaning when it is aligned with the journey toward the eternal soul.

📖 Sources

• Full sources available on the Mitzvah Minute Parshas Terumah page under insights and commentaries