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Why does the Torah (תורה) use "vayikach" (he took) only for the luchos, while other vessels are simply described as being placed? The shiur argues that Moshe had his own aron housing the luchos in his tent, which gave his dwelling the status of Ohel Moed. When the luchos were removed and transferred to the Mishkan's aron, Moshe's tent lost its special sanctity—making this a true "removal," not merely a placement.
This shiur analyzes a subtle linguistic feature in Parshas Pekudei regarding the erection of the Mishkan and the placement of its vessels. While all other vessels (shulchan, menorah, Mizbeach Hazahav, curtains, washbasin) are described simply as being "put" in their places, the Torah (תורה) uses different language for the luchos: "vayikach vayiten es ha'eidus" — "he took the testimony and put it" into the aron. Rabbi Zweig seeks to understand why the Torah emphasizes that Moshe "took" the luchos before placing them in the aron. Rabbi Zweig begins by citing Rashi (רש"י) on Parshas Eikev, who explains that the luchos were actually placed into the aron on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, or perhaps seven days earlier when they began erecting the Mishkan. This raises an obvious question: where were the luchos kept until that point? Rabbi Zweig proposes that Moshe had made another aron—his own personal aron—in which he kept the luchos. This aron was kept in Moshe's tent.
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Parshas Pekudei
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