Szimon Hatzadyk był ostatnim z ludzi wielkiego zgromadzenia [a tradycja (hakabalah) pozostała w jego ręku. Był arcykapłanem po Ezdraszu.] Miał zwyczaj mawiać [(I tak wszystko „R. Ploni mówi” i „miał zwyczaj mówić” w tym traktacie są rozumiane jako „Tak mówił zawsze”). ]: Świat stoi na trzech rzeczach [tj. Świat został stworzony tylko dla tych trzech rzeczy]: na Torze [(Szabat 88a) Gdyby Izrael nie przyjął Tory, niebo i ziemia nie zostałyby stworzone, jak jest napisane (Jeremiasz 33:25): „Gdyby nie moje przymierze (Tory), w dzień i w nocy nie ustanowiłbym praw nieba i ziemi”], na avodah [służbie ofiarnej. W ten sposób dowiedzieliśmy się w traktacie Ta'anith (27b): gdyby nie ma'amadoth („straż” na nabożeństwach ofiarnych), niebo i ziemia nie mogłyby przetrwać. I widzimy, że z powodu ofiar złożonych przez Noacha przysięgał, że nigdy więcej nie sprowadzi potopu na świat—skąd widzimy, że świat trwa z powodu ofiar] i na miłosierdziu [jak jest napisane (Psalm 89: 3): „Świat zbudowany jest na miłosierdziu”. Łaskawość polega na: radowaniu się pana młodego, pocieszaniu żałobników, odwiedzaniu chorych, opiece nad umarłymi itp.]
Pesikta Rabbati
… it is written there “Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…” (Melachim I 8:27) and here it is written “…the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” (Shemot 40:35) R’ Yehoshua of Sachnin said in the name of R’ Levi ‘to what is this likened? To an open cave at the edge of the sea. When the sea storms the cave is filled, but the sea is not reduced. So too, even though it is written that ‘the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle’ the upper and lower worlds did not lose anything of the brilliance of the glory of the Holy One, just as it is written “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? says the Lord.” (Yirmiyahu 23:24) Therefore it is written here ‘And it was’. Just as the Divine Presence was here below at the beginning of the creation of the world but withdrew to above, now it returned to be below as it had been “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (Bamidbar 7:1) ... [Another explanation. “And it was that on the day that Moses finished erecting the Mishkan…” (Numbers 7:1)] R’ Simon said: at the time when the Holy One told Israel to erect the Tabernacle, He hinted that when the Tabernacle below is erected, the Tabernacle above is erected, as it says “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (ibid.) It does not say ‘erecting the Tabernacle’ but rather ‘erecting this (et) the Tabernacle.’ This refers to the Tabernacle above. The Holy One said: in this world, when the Tabernacle was erected, I commanded Aharon and his sons that they bless you. In the time to come I, in my glory, will bless you. So it is written “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 134:3)
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Midrash Tanchuma
"And it was on the day that Moses had finished to erect the tabernacle" (Numbers 7:1). Our rabbis taught (Avot 1:2),"On three things the world stands: On the Torah, on the service and on acts of lovingkindness." You find twenty-six generations from when the world was created until the Torah was given, and the Holy One, blessed be He, supported them out of kindness (since they were not worthy). And corresponding to them, David said, "As Your kindness is great," twenty-six times in the great Hallel (Psalms 136). Rabbi Acha said in the name of Rav Huna, "Moshe also hinted about them to Israel at the [Red] Sea, as he said am zu (this nation, in that zu has a numerical equivalent of thirteen) twice. As it is stated (Exodus 15:13), 'You have led this people that You have redeemed,' and it is written (Exodus 15:16), 'until this nation that You acquired has passed' - these are the twenty-six generations that [arose] from when the world was created until the Torah was given. 'You led them with Your strength (Exodus 15:13) - that is the Torah, which is called strength, as it is stated (Psalms 29:11), 'May the Lord give strength to His people.'" A parable: To what was the world similar at this time? To a basket with two legs, which [hence] could not stand. Once the tabernacle was erected, the world stood and was given a base, as stated, "And it was on the day that Moses had finished to erect the tabernacle (et hamishkan)." "Hamishkan" is not written here, but rather "et hamishkan, [the extra word coming] to include the creation of the world, about which it is written (Genesis 1:1), "et the heavens and the earth."
