B"H
Tuesday, Adar1- 25, 5784 / March 5, 2024
There are 613 mitzvot prescribed in the Torah. Many of the mitzvot are to be practiced only under certain conditions, such as the laws which apply to the Holy Temple, the laws which apply to a Jewish king etc. Many of the mitzvot apply only to Kohanim (priests) or the specific laws for judges etc. Then there are the mitzvot which apply only during certain years, such as the laws of the sabbatical year (Shemitah) and the Jubilee (Yovel) years.
There are mitzvot which apply each day, such as the laws of Kashrut, love your fellow as yourself, love and fear G-d etc. Another category of mitzvot are those which apply only on certain days or certain dates of the year; such as the mitzvot of Shabbat and the holidays.
This week’s Parsha, Vayakhel, and next week’s Parsha, Pekudei, speak mainly about the contributions and the building of the Mishkan – the Tabernacle, which served the Jewish people during their forty-year journey in the desert.
The Parsha begins, “And Moshe assembled the entire congregation and said to them, ‘These are the things which G-d commanded to be done: Six days you may work, but the seventh day should be holy to you, a day of complete rest to G-d.’” Then Moshe goes on to tell them about all the requirements for the building of the Tabernacle (Mishkan).
Q. What is the connection between this Parsha, to build the Mishkan, to the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa?
A. This Parsha comes right after the Story of the Golden Calf, the breaking of the Tablets, Moshe’s prayers for G-d’s forgiveness and Moshe coming down with the Second Tablets on Yom Kippur. The gathering this Parsha speaks about took place one day after Yom Kippur. Thus, this Parsha is connected with the previous Parsha because the commandment to build the Mishkan was a result of G-d’s forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf, about which we read in last week’s Parsha.
Q. In the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa, we read about the sin of the Golden Calf, the breaking of the Tablets and Moshe going back on the mountain and coming down with the Second Tablets. When did Moshe come down with the Second Tablets?
A. On Yom Kippur. On that day G-d forgave the Jewish people for the sin of the Golden Calf and that day G-d established as the Day of Atonement and forgiveness for all generations.
Q. The purpose of this gathering was to tell them about the building of the Sanctuary. Why did Moshe begin with the mitzvah of observing Shabbat?
A. Building the Mishkan was as a result and a sign that G-d forgave them for the sin of the Golden Calf. Because this was so important to them, they may think that it takes precedence and may be constructed even on Shabbat, Moshe reminded them not to violate Shabbat.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.