Before turning to Vayikra, there is one further thought I wanted to share. In one earlier entry I cited a teaching by R. Sh. Hirsch, the author of T'rumah Tzvi / The Pentateuch in which he addresses the repetition of the instructions for the sanctuary. He observes that it is the intension, specifically the intent to fulfill G-d's commandments, that makes something holy or sacred. Thus in re-stating G-d's commandments regarding the creation of the sanctuary, the Torah reinforces the sacred purpose the resulting labors and objects are fulfilling.

On its own, this seemed sufficient for my purposes, which was making sense of the repetition. However, after I wrote that entry, other, more important implications started to come to mind. For instance, a number of people discuss the not-very-great distinction of the cover the Ark of the Covenant with its two solid gold cherubim and the golden calf. Aside from the gold, both would seem to violate the commandment prohibiting graven images. In fact, the two seem so similar that you could easily feel an "in your face" factor. For one, we get punished and for the other we earn G-d's presence among us. The key difference between the two items is that one is a fulfillment of G-d's commandment and the other is not. You might even take it further by noting that the figures that make up the Ark cover appear to be in direct contradiction of a commandment. Apparently G-d is not subject to the commandments and we may break a commandment when doing so fulfills G-d's will.

There is so much in the Torah that would be meaningless except for G-d's commandment. (Of course, I understand that for those that don't believe in G-d or don't believe in G-d as a presence in their lives, this all seems meaningless anyway, and G-d saying so don't make any difference. However, I'm not writing for that audience, am I?) Our actions in these cases only become sacred when we are fulfilling G-d's intention. One simple example is Shabbat. What makes that day any different different than the other six? There is nothing inherently different and only the commandment to keep it sacred sets it apart. You can refrain from working on Monday and it doesn't mean anything. In fact, sleeping in on Saturday doesn't make it Shabbat. That's the part about intention. Of course, in Judaism there is less emphasis on how you feel or what you think than in what you do. If you fulfill the commandments, there is no one who can judge your intentions. But intention is what makes you fulfill the commandments, to keep Shabbat, to keep kosher, to ... whatever you believe G-d wants of you.