Exodus 35:1–38:20
Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei
Moses gathers the people, reminds them of Shabbat and calls for contributions to the Mishkan; they give so generously that he has to tell them to stop. Bezalel and Oholiav lead the craftsmen in making the Sanctuary and its vessels. In Pekudei, usually read together with it, the materials are accounted for, the priestly garments are made, and the Mishkan is set up and filled with G-d's glory.
Essays
Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Betzalel’s Passion Frequently, we have to go back a generation or more to explain the source of our empowerment. Parents, grandparents and other ancestors bequeath to us a legacy of holiness. Betzalel inherited his obsession with holiness form his obscure grandfather, Chur. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Completing the Task PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – First “Doubleheader” The first two Torah portions reflect the two pronged thrust of Torah. We must see the community through the prism of the individual and the individual through the prism of the community. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – “Fossil Fuel” for the Sanctuary The Mishkan and subsequent Holy Temples correspond to the human body. The holiness from the three divisions of the Sanctuary would flow through the human body. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Gathering Within Gathering Construction of the Sanctuary does not override the Shabbos because one cannot build in the realm of holiness at the expense of compromising holiness. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Half to the Very End We are humbled when we are helpless. Our challenge is to be humble when we have achieved our goals. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Here We Go Again! Judaism fuses objective devotion with subjective feelings. These two expressions are reflected in the command to build a Sanctuary and the followup command for the Kohanim to wear Priestly garments. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Jewish Pyrotechnics There is an inner fire and an external fire. The external fire we use in the weekdays to destroy the resistant forces of nature and convert them into spiritual energy. The internal fire is serene and warm. It is the fire of our soul, of Torah. It is revealed particularly on Shabbos. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – In Your Face Judaism Judaism encourages us to become public figures so we can maximize our influence over others. Humility that leads to withdrawing from the public arena is a form of spiritual selfishness. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Moses the Cpa One of the ways of testing a person is through money. Along with anger and wine, money can bring out the best or the worst in people. Money is not the root of all evil; it can be used for evil and so can it be used for good. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Prime Suspect! PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Put Out the Fires! Shabbos is a day of rest, peace, tranquility and holiness. Our part in observing Shabbos and preserving its serenity is to avoid all conflict. The Shabbos itself will do the rest. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Self- Transcendence To construct a Mishkan-Sanctuary for G-d, we have to first discover within ourselves a Divine spirit of selflessness and unity. The Sanctuary, once constructed, would help us in our self-discovery PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – – Seven Telescope and Microscope Some see the forest but not the trees. Some see the trees but not the forest. Judaism is about seeing the trees and the forest. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Shabbos Shabbos There are times when we have to prevent people from expressing to much zeal. In some extreme situations excessive zeal can cause us to trample over other values. The Torah determines when, and how to channel our deepest soul powers. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Shabbos and the Mishkan: Patent Protected The Shabbos and the Mishkan are the two most dramatic representations of G-d’s vision for the Messianic Age. They were given as a gift to the Jewish people whose mission it is to create a Dwelling Place for G- d throughout the world. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Smoke Alarm Existence is a union between space, time and energy. The acronym for these three components is ashan-smoke. Mount Sinai was engulfed in smoke. The purpose of Torah was to clear away the smoke that obscures the Divinity within space, time and energy. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Sweet Light Judaism is multi-colored and sweet. Judaism is both rational and mystical. Judaism is warm and inviting as well as firm and demanding. All of this was radiated through the light of the Menorah that reflected the entire spectrum of Torah hues and lights and radiated that light to the entire world.. P Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The Completed Bais Hamikdash PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The Mishkan-Déjà Vu The construction of the Sanctuary is G-d’s way of expressing His love for us and that He wants to live with us. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The Feminine Mystique The feminine spiritual dynamic is from a transcendent G-dly source. The future Messianic Age will be the age where the higher feminine energy will prevail. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The Preeminence of Women Men and women both possess an inner fountain of faith. Women, however, were blessed with fewer obstructions to their inner faith and love for G-d. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The Real Completion Most feel fulfillment when they complete a task; True fulfillment is when we realize that we are on an endless journey. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The Second Mishkan Everything exists on two planes; the earthly and the heavenly. This is especially true with the Mishkan, where the heavenly was openly reflected in and through the earthly. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Voluntary Commandments Some love volunteering. Others celebrate the opportunity to serve G-d unconditionally. To create a home for G-d in this world requires both a spirit of volunteerism and sense of obligation. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – The State of Our Union Is Strong! PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – When Counting Counts We count material items. But we deeply value spiritual experiences. The best of both worlds will be when we will have a spiritual experience even as we count our physical objects. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI Parsha Vayakhel-Pikudei – Whose Building Is It? What is the test of true friendship? When small things that affect the other matter to you, even when they don’t matter very much when it comes to your own interests. PIKUDEI PIKUDEI