Midrash about the Genesis story depicts God making garments for the first human beings, to give them a way to cover over their transgressive actions. One of the names for the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, stems from the Hebrew root that can mean to cover over, or atone for, a wrongdoing. The animal hides that cover the Mishkan seem to be reminders of God's merciful act of providing protective clothing for the first humans to go astray in the Garden of Eden. This time God's merciful action to command the building of a Mishkan in the desert wilderness provides a way for the people to cover over the betrayal of their idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf.
וַיַּ֩עַשׂ֩ יהוה אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְאָדָ֧ם וּלְאִשְׁתּ֛וֹ כׇּתְנ֥וֹת ע֖וֹר וַיַּלְבִּשֵֽׁם׃ {פ}
And God יהוה made garments of skins for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
Ex. 25:5 "dolphin* skins"
v'orot tachashim,
Orot, plural of or, (from the root Ayin-Vav-Resh) meaning animal hides after skinning [BDB dictionary]
Gen. 3:21 "And God made garments of skins"
kotnot or
Max's title note for Psalm 1, "(v.3. a song)" [in his book Psalms for Contemplation] evokes memories of him speaking with enthusiasm, during Shabbat morning Torah discussions, about the need to find more ways to connect our engagement with Torah learning with our prayer practices. Pursuing that goal he persuaded the Fabrangen congregation to adopt the Rabbinical Assembly's prayer book, Siddur Lev Shalem for Shabbat & Festivals. It's a joy to remember the sound of his voice singing, praying, and commenting during the weekly Torah portion discussion at Fabrangen services for so many years.
Max Ticktin / Fabrangen Havurah / Washington, D.C.
https://www.fabrangen.org/?s=Max+Ticktin
[update: visited link 07/28/2025]
Max Ticktin / Fabrangen Havurah / Washington, D.C.
https://www.fabrangen.org/?s=Max+Ticktin
[update: visited link 07/28/2025]
Thanks to Norma Brooks for composing Jewish liturgical music, including songs deeply connected with Max Ticktin's English renderings from the Book of Psalms, as well as the Fabrangen community.Psalm Full of Soul / Abouthttps://psalmfullofsoul.com/about.html
[update: visited link 07/28/2025]
"What happens when three internationally renowned artists - jazz musician Vince Evans, gospel singer Vanessa R. Williams, and Jewish liturgical composer Norma Brooks come together to create original songs in English and Hebrew for Psalms? The Psalm Full of Soul project is a rich tapestry of soulful sounds journeying through jazz, gospel, classical and funk and drawing upon diverse cultures and traditions."
[update: visited link 07/28/2025]
"What happens when three internationally renowned artists - jazz musician Vince Evans, gospel singer Vanessa R. Williams, and Jewish liturgical composer Norma Brooks come together to create original songs in English and Hebrew for Psalms? The Psalm Full of Soul project is a rich tapestry of soulful sounds journeying through jazz, gospel, classical and funk and drawing upon diverse cultures and traditions."
I am grateful to Rabbi Max Ticktin, z"l, for introducing me to this book:
The Way of Man: According to the Teachings of HasidismandTen Rungs: Collected Hasidic Sayings
by Martin Buber, Citadel Press Books, New York, NY, 2006.
[Excerpt from p. 38, The Way of Man, VI. Here Where One Stands:]
"'Where is the dwelling of God?' This is the question with which the Rabbi of Kotzk surprised a number of learned men who happened to be visiting him. They laughed at him: 'What a thing to ask! Is not the whole world full of his glory?' Then he answered his own question: 'God dwells wherever man lets him in'
The Way of Man: According to the Teachings of HasidismandTen Rungs: Collected Hasidic Sayings
by Martin Buber, Citadel Press Books, New York, NY, 2006.
[Excerpt from p. 38, The Way of Man, VI. Here Where One Stands:]
"'Where is the dwelling of God?' This is the question with which the Rabbi of Kotzk surprised a number of learned men who happened to be visiting him. They laughed at him: 'What a thing to ask! Is not the whole world full of his glory?' Then he answered his own question: 'God dwells wherever man lets him in'
דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כׇּל־אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־תְּרוּמָתִֽי׃
Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved.
What did it mean to people of ancient times to let God in?
What do you notice in the stories about multi-sensory experiences in the desert wilderness?
How can manna taste like each different person's favorite flavor?
How do the tachash hides covering the Mishkan look to each person? Do they all see different favorite colors?
What do you notice in the stories about multi-sensory experiences in the desert wilderness?
How can manna taste like each different person's favorite flavor?
How do the tachash hides covering the Mishkan look to each person? Do they all see different favorite colors?