40
HaMikdash was the Aron Kodesh that held the
Luchot. Its ornate cover had on it 2 Keruvim (tho
that technically violated the issur of a graven
image). The Keruvim figure was also engraved on
the curtains, the parokhet & the walls & doors of
the Heikhal. We have no clear idea of their exact
appearance: one opinion is that they had the
faces of children, or (as Yechezkel reported) 1
child & 1 man, mimicking a father & son. Some say
they were a boy & girl, representing pure love
(both between both male & female and Man & G-d).
Ibn Ezra said they resembled oxen. The Torah
explicitly says that they had wings, & some
(Rashbam) said they were images of birds, or
half-bird & half man with lions’ feet. The voice
of Hashem emanated from between the wings of the
Keruvim. Still others connect the Keruvim to the
reference in Bereisheit: baby-faced angels who
brandished weapons & guarded the entrance to Gan
Eden (i.e. Israel) – what a perfect description of our holy Chayalim!
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