Kosher Time

We read in the Torah portion this Shabbat that Hashem has asked the people to bring specific items in order to build his Mishkan:

ד וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי, וְשֵׁשׁ וְעִזִּים.
4 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair;

There is something quite puzzling about the verse above as G-d ask the people to bring תכלת to build the holy Mishkan! You might wonder, what so special about it?

The color תכלת (Techlet) represents a color that does not exist today since blue is incorrect translation. According to most modern scholars the color Techelet תכלת comes from an ancient sea creatures called a חילזון (Chilazon) or in english Murex Trunculus.

According to http://www.tekhelet.com/ and most ultra-orthodox groups, the same Techlet that we are commanded to put in our T'zizit can be extracted from this sea snail. The amazing thing about this verse is due to the fact that a chilazon is non-kosher animal, yet G-d is asking them to bring it to the buildout of the Mishkan!!

As a matter of fact, along side the Yam Hatichon (Midetteranian sea) they have found many Chilazons up to this day, and in the desert they have found many fossils of these amazing Chilazons who produce (their extract) is techelet.

We really need to look above the "Pashat" (the text) to understand Hashem Kavanha (Intention). Hashem is stating to his people that he decides what is kosher and holy and what is not (Compare to Matthew 15), and he can take an "unkosher" animal and use it for a "Kosher" usage. It is great reminder for me that all things are made for Adonai and by Adonai.

Shavuah Tov and may we all be Kosher for him!

Rabbi Shapira