Vayakhel Summaries
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5769-2009"All For the Sake of Heaven " Parashiot Vayakhel-Pekudei are, in essence, repetitions of the instructions regarding building the sanctuary and manufacturing the priestly vestment. The multiple repetitions come to teach that every action in building G-d's dwelling place must be done for the sake of Heaven. So too, must all the actions of every Jew be for the sake of Heaven. |
Vayakhel 5768-2008"Rochel the Riveter"
Those who study parashat Vayakhel feel, at times, like throwing up their hands and saying, “Enough of the excruciating detail about the building of the Tabernacle.” Nevertheless, there are always new and revolutionary insights that may be found when studying the nuances of the texts carefully. Parashat Vayakhel teaches about the special role that the women played in building the Tabernacle and conveys the important message about the primacy of the Jewish home that must never be compromised. Link to full |
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5767-2007"Leadership and its Perils ” |
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5766-2006"Lessons of Leadership from the Resume of an Architect"
What qualities are needed by successful leaders and artisans? The Torah's comments in parashat Vayakhel about Bezalel, the chief craftsman of the Tabernacle, reveal to us some very important Torah insights concerning leadership. Link to full |
Vayakhel 5765-2005“Bezalel’s Artistic Legacy”
Throughout the ages, Judaism has struggled with its mixed attitude toward art and sculpture. One of the few unconditionally positive statements about art, is the Torah's description in parashat Vayakhel of Bezalel's many talents. Aside from his prodigious skills, Bezalel was also a master teacher of art, and it is not unlikely that because of his artistry and singular devotion, we today enjoy the aesthetic gifts that have been passed down through him from generation to generation.
|
Vayakhel-Pekudei 5764-2004"Celebrating the Month of Nisan"
The Jewish month of Nisan, the first month that was celebrated by Israel after the birth of the Jewish nation, is heralded each year by an additional reading from the Torah on Shabbat HaChodesh. This special Shabbat, serves as a reminder to Jews that G-d grants His people solace in times of grief, support in the face of challenge, and light in the darkest of hours. The month of Nisan signals that redemption and renewal are in the air. Link to full |
Vayakhel 5763-2003 Although people tend to say that generosity is simply giving of one’s wherewithal to help another, Judaism defines true generosity as giving with a full and willing heart. It is the willing heart that determines true and genuine generosity. |
Vayakhel-Pekudai 5762-2002 On the Sabbath prior to the new month of Nisan, a portion known as Parashat Hachodesh is read, announcing the arrival of the new month of Nisan, the first month of the year. Nisan is the month of redemption and salvation. It is a time when the Jewish people burst forth from darkness and despair to allow the glory of G-d to shine forth. This is the original Jewish renewal movement. |
Vayakhel-Pekudai 5761-2001 Unexpectedly, in the middle of the plans for the construction of the Tabernacle, the Torah in parashat Vayakhel exhorts the Jewish people to observe the Sabbath. While the Tabernacle and the Temple were sacred spaces, far more important was the sanctity of time. If we lose or forfeit space, land or earth, they can often be recovered. But time that passes can never be recovered. Time is truly Israel. |
Vayakhel 5760-2000 We are told in parashat Vayakhel that the Jewish women responded immediately to the appeals for gold for building the Tabernacle that were made by Moses, removing their precious jewelry and rushing them to the Tabernacle. This was only one of the many heroic actions that the women of Israel performed. The key role that the women of Israel played in the redemption of the people of Israel is confirmed by the remarkable rabbinic statement asserting that only in the merit of the righteous women, were our ancestors redeemed from Egypt. It is quite likely that this is true not only of the generation of Egypt, but in all subsequent generations as well. |