Overview of the Weekly Reading: Vayakhel/Pekudeh, Hachodesh
Shabbat
Mevarchim (Blessing of the
new month)
To be read on the Shabbat of 25 Adar, 5762 (March 9)
Torah: Ex. 35:1-40:38, Maftir: Hachodesh
Ex.12:1-20
Haftorah: Ezekiel 45:16-12, 46:1-18 (for
Shabbat HaChodesh. as its beginning mentions both Rosh Chodesh Nissan
and the Pesach sacrifice);
Stats: Vayakhel contains
0 positive mitzvot and 1 prohibitive mitzvot. Among the
Weekly Readings, Vayakhel ranks 17 out of 54 in number
of verses, 24 in number of words, and 21 in number of
letters
Pekudeh contains 0 positive mitzvot and 0 prohibitive
mitzvot. Among the Weekly Readings, Pekudeh ranks 40 out
of 54 in number of verses, 42 in number of words, and 44 in
number of letters
First is the command to keep Shabbat. Next is described
the materials donated to constructing the Tabernacle. The chief architects,
Betzalel and Oholiav, oversaw the contributions and the work. The verses
go on to describe the building of the tapestries, coverings, beams,
ark, table, menorah, incense altar, sacrificial altar, washstand, and
outer enclosure of the Tabernacle. In Pekudei is an accounting of all
materials used in making the Tabernacle. Then described are the methods
used in making the priests' clothing. All the labor was carried out
as G-d commanded, and Moshe blessed the workers. G-d commanded Moshe
how and when to assemble the Tabernacle and dress the priests. When
this was completed, G-d's cloud of glory came and rested on the Tabernacle
for all to see. When the cloud would rise, it was a signal for the Jews
to travel. Chazak chazak v'nit'chazek!
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES
Vayakhel
"Moses gathered together all the
congregation of the Children of Israel and said to them: 'These are the
things which G-d has commanded that you should do'."
(35:1)
Every Jew approaches a mitzva with his
own personal thoughts and intentions, according to his intellect and level
of understanding. Yet the physical performance of the mitzva is carried
out in the same manner by all. Moses was able to assemble all the Jews
together in true unity because the performance of mitzvot is common to
all Jews, no matter what their other differences may be.
(Rebbe of Tshortkov)
Pekudei
"These are the accounts of the
Tabernacle (mishkan); the Tabernacle of the testimony." (38:21)
One reason the word "Tabernacle"
is repeated is to allude to the two Holy Temples -- the spiritual one
that exists in the celestial spheres above and the physical one that was
built by the Jews below to reflect spiritual reality.
(Likutei Sichot)
HaChodesh
"Guard the matzot." (12:17)
It can also be read [since the Torah scroll
has no vowels], "Guard the mitzvot." Just as we must not let
the matzah dough ferment, so we should not let a mitzvah opportunity ferment,
but do it immediately. Also, don't do it with a 'fermented' sour face,
but with enthusiasm and joy.
(Sichat HaShavuah)
FROM THE MASTERS OF KABBALAH
Selected with
permission from the five-volume English edition of Ohr HaChaim: the
Torah Commentary of Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar, as translated and annotated
by Eliyahu Munk.
The holy Rabbi Chayim ben Moses Attar was born in Sale, Western Morocco,
on the Atlantic in 1696. His immortal commentary on the Five Books Of
Moses, Or Hachayim, was printed in Venice in 1741, while the author was
on his way to the Holy Land. He acquired a reputation as a miracle worker,
hence his title "the holy," although some apply this title only
to his Torah commentary.
"Moses assembled the
entire congregation of the sons of Israel…."(35:1)
We are told in the Zohar
volume 3 page 196 that Moses assembled the men separately in order to
separate them for the women seeing that Satan was present and Moses wanted
to forestall giving Satan a pretext to harm the Israelites during such
an assembly.
Since women were not normally present when Moses explained Torah legislation
to the people except when they brought the donations for the building
of the Holy Tabernacle, Moses did not normally have to take measures to
counteract the presence of Satan, the seducer.
We have proof of what the Zohar wrote in verse 22 where the arrival
of the men and women is reported separately, i.e. "the men came in
addition to the women." This is only emphasized because it was not
the norm for women to participate in these assemblies. The best proof
that in our instance Moses assembled the men and women separately is in
the word bni, the males. If the men and women had been assembled jointly,
the Torah should only have written: "the whole congregation of Israel"
and not "the whole congregation of the sons of Israel".
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter
G-d commands the Jews "Six
days shall your work be done, and the seventh day will be holy for you,
a Sabbath of Sabbaths for G-d..." (35/2).
In order for it to be as G-d wishes, Shabbat must be preceded by six days
of work. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that when examining the verse,
we are not commanded to delve into the physical world, running after our
livelihood, working extremely hard.
The Jews need not "do
the work" to make a living, rather "it will be done". The
necessary tasks will be completed, effortlessly, and even by others, if
the Jews will do G-d's will. This does not mean that one should take a
totally laisez faire or fatalistic approach to doing one's job.
You still have to show up at the office, but you don't make your occupation
into your raison d'etre. Our jobs are simply the vessel for receiving
our livelihood, therefore we must, in fact, make the basic effort. But
our job is not the true source. G-d is.
We should only put our external
energies into our job, and save our real energies and focus for doing
mitzvahs. In Tehillim it is written "You shall toil
with your hands in order to eat; you will be happy and have goodness"
(128/2). How will a person receive good? By using his or her hands
to do work, but reserving the heart and mind for G-d. It is written, "G-d's
blessing brings wealth".
Staying the extra hours at the computer is not what causes great profit.
G-d is the ultimate Source of all blessings. The half hour away from the
office to catch a mincha minyan is sure to bring in more revenue
than that same half hour spent with clients. (A chossid once went
to his Rebbe and complained at great length about his shoe mending business
travails. After listening to this extensive tale, the Rebbe replied 'I
have seen many people who put their feet into their shoes, but you have
managed to put your head into your shoes.")
Having the proper attitude during the week's workdays will direct Shabbat
in the correct avenue. Shabbat should be totally removed from work matters,
taking advantage of the extra free time to learn Torah.
If someone is absorbed in making
another 'grand' during the week, it is not hard to imagine the he or will
catch him or herself thinking about new deals or purchases throughout
Shabbat, instead of proper holy focuses.
A Jew who does believe that
G-d gives his or her salary, will actually have a sense of Shabbat throughout
the whole week and an extra holy 'Sabbath of Sabbaths.'
Shabbat Shalom!
|
