There were three vessels present in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that had a golden crown-like ornament encompassing them.

By the Aron (Ark) the Torah says (25:11) וְעָשִׂיתָ עָלָיו זֵר זָהָב סָבִיב, “You shall make a golden crown around (it).” By the Shulchan (Table) it says (25:25), וְעָשִׂיתָ זֵר־זָהָב לְמִסְגַּרְתּוֹ סָבִיב, “And you shall make a golden crown for its rim around (it).” By the Golden Mizbeach (Altar) which was located inside the Mishkan (there was also the Copper Altar in the Courtyard) the Torah says (30:3), וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ זֵר זָהָב סָבִיב׃, “You shall make a golden crown around (it).” This indicates that these were the three main vessels of the Mishkan.

Looking at these three together, the commentary of Kli Yakar notices something curious. The dimensions of the Aron were (25:10), “two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” Each dimension had a broken or incomplete measure to it – the half cubit. The dimensions of the Shulchan were (25:23), “אַמָּתַיִם אָרְכּוֹ וְאַמָּה רָחְבּוֹ וְאַמָּה וָחֵצִי קֹמָתוֹ, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.” Here we have two dimensions with whole measures and one dimension with an incomplete one.

By the Golden altar it says (30:2), אַמָּה אָרְכּוֹ וְאַמָּה רָחְבּוֹ רָבוּעַ יִהְיֶה וְאַמָּתַיִם קֹמָתוֹ “It shall be a cubit long and a cubit wide—it shall be square—and two cubits high.” Here we have all its dimensions complete!

All the vessels of the Mishkan and their details contain messages for us to learn from and these dimensional differences, comments Kli Yakar, are no different.

The Aron represents the Torah because it contained the Luchot (the Tablets), engraved with the Ten Commandments on them, that Moshe brought down from Sinai. When it comes to Torah a person should never see themselves as complete. There is always more to learn and more mitzvos to perform. Interestingly, a Torah scholar in Hebrew is called a תלמיד חכם (Talmid Chacham) which literally translated means the student of a wise man. A true scholar is always a student, always ready to learn more no matter what he has already accomplished. Therefore the Aron contained incomplete measures in its dimensions to remind us that when it comes to Torah we should always see ourselves as incomplete.

The Shulchan, upon which had the Lechem HaPanim (the Show Breads) resting, represents our material blessings. When it comes to that we should see ourselves as whole as Pirke Avot (4:1) teaches us אֵיזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר, הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ- “Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot.” Therefore the two complete dimensions are meant to remind us to feel complete with our material blessings. But what lies in the incomplete dimension (a cubit and a half high)? Kli Yakar explains that it is meant to teach us that when it comes to fulfilling our material desires we should hold back and not strive to fulfill them to our complete satisfaction. If that is what we strive for, we will find ourselves always feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled.

The Golden Altar, as well as the Copper Altar were where offerings were brought. On the Golden Altar the Ketoret (the Incense) was brought while on the Copper Altar the Korbanot (Sacrifices) were brought. These Altars brought atonement to the Jewish people for their sins and shortcomings.. Sin makes us damaged, impure and thus incomplete. The offerings on the Altars brought atonement and made us whole again. The Korbanot that came from animals atoned and cleansed our physical being from the damage of sin. While the Ketores brought on the Golden altar cleansed our neshamot (our souls) because the smoke that rose from the Incense is like the Neshama that is contained in our bodies but rises to the Heavens. Therefore the dimensions of the Altar (actually both Altars) were all complete to remind us that it is through the Altar that we become whole and complete again.

Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak