Family Parshah
Vayakhel Q & A

You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day. (35:3)

Question: Why does the Torah single out this prohibition and not any of the other 39 major forbidden activities?

Answer: Heated arguments are like fire: Unfortunately, they destroy many homes, partnerships and relationships. When people are busy, they do not have time to argue and fight.

Because Shabbat is a day of rest and we have more time, the Torah warns us, "Beware not to kindle the 'fire of dispute' on the Shabbat day. Keep yourself busy with Torah study and davening, and avoid idleness."

All willing-hearted brought bracelets and earrings. (35:22)

Question: Why are the people who brought jewelry referred to as "willing hearted" people and not those who simply offered gold?

Answer: Although gold is very valuable, a person's own jewelry is especially cherished. Unlike a quantity of precious metal, which can be replaced, jewelry often has great sentimental value.

Donations of gold may indeed be generous, but donations to charity or to one in need of personal items to which one has become attached demonstrate that one is "willing-hearted."

All the women whose hearts stirred them up in wisdom spun the goat's hair. (35:26)

Question: The famous commenter Rashi says, "This was a special skill, for they spun the goat's hair upon the backs of the goats."

G-d's instructions for the Tabernacle do not require that the goat's hair be spun on the back of the goats. Why does the Torah convey to us the technique by which the women spun the goats' hair?

Answer: The Torah is teaching a very important lesson: When people possess special talents it is important for them to remember that G-d blessed them with these talents so that they may be used to make this world a dwelling place for G-d.

Since there were women who were blessed with the unique skill of spinning hair still on the backs of the goat, they utilized this skill for the holy purpose of making a Tabernacle, in which G-d would dwell.