Parashat Bemidbar

Dismantling to Build: The Sacred Art of Deep Questions

Parashat Bemidbar presents us with a striking paradox: the Kehatites, despite being chosen to carry the sacred vessels of the Tabernacle, are forbidden from witnessing their covering. Only the priests may cover these holy objects before the Levites approach to carry them. This isn't merely a technical restriction—it's a matter of life and death. The Torah warns that witnessing "the covering of the sacred" poses mortal danger. Here we encounter a profound spiritual principle: not everyone can bear the process of dismantling the sacred, even those dedicated to God's service.

This principle extends beyond the Tabernacle to the very essence of Torah study. True scholarship isn't about accumulating knowledge like studying Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, but rather about the ability to dismantle and reconstruct understanding. The greatest scholars are those who ask novel questions that shatter our simple comprehension—who take a clear page of Talmud and expose its hidden complexities. Before Rashi and Tosafot, there was a "simple, smooth page of Talmud," but the commentators "enter the equation and tear it to pieces." This process of breaking down established understanding to rebuild it on deeper foundations is both necessary and dangerous.

Not everyone possesses the spiritual capacity to witness this dismantling and reconstruction of the sacred. Just as there were different levels of access to the Tabernacle's holiness, so too in learning there are questions that only certain individuals can ask without losing their way. The danger lies not in the absence of answers, but in the possibility that after struggling with profound questions, one might be unable to reassemble the sacred properly. Only those like Aaron—who could be both wholehearted and wise, who could dismantle the sacred while maintaining their reverence—are permitted to see "the sacred objects being covered" and then rebuild them in their new place.

Questions to Contemplate

When I encounter teachings or beliefs that seem simple and clear, am I willing to engage with their deeper complexities, even if it means temporarily losing the comfort of certainty?

How do I discern the difference between destructive criticism that merely tears down and constructive questioning that dismantles in order to rebuild something more authentic and profound?