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Why does the Torah (תורה) forbid removing the staves (badim) from the Ark's rings? The shiur explores whether the staves define the Ark's essential tzurah—a vessel meant to be portable—or serve merely as a practical readiness feature for wartime transport. The question reframes how we understand the lav and whether malkus applies.
This shiur analyzes the mitzvah (מצוה) prohibiting removal of the staves (badim) from the Ark (aron). Rabbi Zweig begins with the Sefer HaChinuch, who states this is a mitzvah noheges ledoros (applicable for all generations), not limited to a specific time period. The Chinuch explains that whenever there is an aron, the staves must remain in place so the aron can be carried immediately—whether due to war or any other cause. This implies the prohibition is functional: the staves enable the Levites to transport the aron on short notice. Rabbi Zweig questions whether this functional reading captures the full scope of the law. He suggests an alternative: perhaps the staves are not merely a practical accessory but constitute part of the essential tzurah (form) of the aron itself. In other words, the aron by definition is a portable vessel—like a carry-on bag designed with wheels—and the staves define its identity, not just its utility. Under this reading, removing the staves would compromise the aron's very nature, not merely its readiness for transport.
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Parshas Terumah - Staves of the Ark (Shemos 25:15)
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