The whole community of Israelites assembled at Shiloh, and set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land was now under their control
Yehoshua 18:1
We concluded the day by travelling to the spiritual capital of Israel during the period of the Shoftim - Shilo. We learned about this being the place Yehoshua established the Mishkan after the 14 years of conquest and division of the land.
We learned why it was that Yehoshua chose Shilo over other places for the capital of the newly founded kingdom of Israel.
We got to see the specially farmed Para Aduma - the red heifer - which were being bred and housed in Shilo. The red heifer was a critical ingredient in the Mishkan in Shilo. That is because anyone who had come into contact with death would need a purification process involving sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer in special water in order to be able to enter the sanctuary. The Tel Shilo park now has 3 red heifers.
We learned about the process of centralization of worship during this time and how it took time to transition from bamos - private alters to centralized worship in one place.
We got to watch a beautiful film about the history of Shilo and the many important stories of Tanach which happened there including the decision of the the division of the last tribal territories.
The men set out on their journeys: Joshua ordered those who were leaving to write down a description of the land—“Go, traverse the country and write down a description of it. Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh before GOD.”
Yehoshua 18:8
We got to visit the place of the ancient Mishkan and learn why we are pretty certain today that this place itself is in fact where the Mishkan stood.
We took a moment to pray for our children and grandchildren at the site of the Mishkan.
It was a very windy day so for Mincha, we moved up to the beautiful shul in the new Shilo town just on top of the hill. The shul is built in a beautiful way, just like the Mishkan Shilo would have looked.
We also were able to recite a special bracha at the site of the Mishkan - the blessing about seeing an area which was laid waste and yet rebuilt now. Some suggest that we ay this specifically at the site of a shul, and so we stood in front of the beautiful shul in new Shilo and said this emotional bracha which captured so much of our trip.
The Sages taught: One who sees the houses of Israel inhabited and tranquil recites: Blessed…Who establishes the border of the widow.
Talmud Bavli, Brachos 58b
As we travelled back we learned about why it was that the command in the Torah about where the Mishkan should be so vague?
Do not worship the ETERNAL your God in like manner, but look only to the site that the ETERNAL your God will choose amidst all your tribes as God’s habitation, to establish the divine name there. There you are to go, and there you are to bring your burnt offerings and other sacrifices, your tithes and contributions, your votive and freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks.
Devarim 12:5-6
And finally, as we concluded, we considered the ever-evolving term ‘home’ and why it could not be explicitly conveyed in Devarim.