This week is about building the dwelling, or home, (in this case a very fancy tent) where the Ten Commandments were to be kept. 

This dwelling was very important. We know that because there are four chapters in the Torah telling the people of Israel how to build it. 

Here is an example from the Torah of the detail that was set out:

Now you are to make the dwelling from ten tapestries of fine linen, blue and purple and worm-scarlet yarn, with sphinxes, made by skilled designers. (Some translations translate k’roovim כְּרֻבִים as sphinxes, winged half lion/half human figures. Others translate it as cherubim, cuddly little baby figures. Take your pick.)

The length of each tapestry should be twenty-eight cubits.  The width should be four cubits.  (A cubit is about 1 ½ feet.)

The Torah even tells you to put loops on the edge of the tapestries – and how many loops on each edge!

The Torah even tells you to put loops on the edge of the tapestries – and how many loops on each edge!