Vayak'hel-Pekudei

Introduction Frequently, the Rebbe would explain that, when two Torah readings are combined, three themes emerge: the themes that each of the two parshiyos itself individually communicates and a third theme that results from the combination of the two. Al...

The tenth section of the Book of Exodus opens as Moses comes down from Mount Sinai for the third and final time and immediately assembles (Vayakheil, in Hebrew) the Jewish people. Moses informed them that G-d had forgiven them for the sin of the Golden Ca...

With regard to the construction of the Mishkan as described in Vayakhel , Rashi notes:.Shmos 35:2. “I have already explained the gifts that were given for the [construction of the] Mishkan and the [actual manner of its] construction in the place [i.e., th...

The book of Shmos concludes with the words “in all their journeys.” The theme of the book is the story of how, as the Midrash says:Bereishis Rabbah 3:5. “the Jewish people departed from darkness to light.” It stands to reason that the theme of Shmos shoul...

On the 1st of Nisan, 2449, Moses erected the Tabernacle according to G-d’s instructions. As mentioned previously, one of the Tabernacle’s furnishings was the Inner Altar, on which was burned a daily offering of incense. Inclusiveness וַיַּקְטֵר עָלָיו קְט...

One of the high priest’s garments was the golden Forehead-plate. Positive Stubbornness וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת צִיץ . . . וַיִּכְתְּבוּ עָלָיו מִכְתַּב פִּתּוּחֵי חוֹתָם קֹדֶשׁ לַה': (שמות לט:ל) [The artisans] made the Forehead-plate, and inscribed upon it “Holy ...

The Torah then describes how the artisans fashioned the priestly garments, including the high priest’s Ephod. Two onyx stones were attached to the upper ends of the two shoulder straps of the Ephod. The Common Denominator וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת אַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם...

The artisans then fashioned the Inner Altar and the Outer Altar. These were followed by the Laver and the pillars of the Courtyard. Blending Assertiveness with Humility נְבוּב לֻחֹת עָשָׂה אֹתוֹ: (שמות לח:ז) [As instructed, the artisans made the Outer, co...

Next the artisans fashioned the Table of 12 loaves. After this, Moses threw gold for the Candelabrum into the furnace, and G-d fashioned the Candelabrum. Seven Ways to Light up the World וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת הַמְּנֹרָה זָהָב טָהוֹר וגו': (שמות לז:יז) [G-d] made ...

The first articles the artisans made were the tapestries that formed the covering of the Tabernacle. The Dynamics of Relationship שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וגו': (שמות לו:ח) [The artisans made the tapestries out of] linen, tu...