Parashat P'kudei: Down to the Nitty-Gritties

Ko Ni Chi Wa, Hanegev!
I don't know about you, but I've had a busy week and I'm very excited to sit down for Shabbat and rest and read. Today and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Adar II, which means that Purim is coming soon!!!! So, Chodesh Tov.

Parashat P'kudei ~ March 8, 2008/1 Adar II 5768
This week’s Parasha is Parashat P’kudei. Normally, P’kudei would be read with Parashat Vayakhel, which we read last week; however, because we have added an additional Adar this year and therefore have an extra four weeks on the Jewish calendar, the need does not exist to separate these parshiyot. Additionally, this Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shekalim, in which we read the section of the Torah discussing the laws of the annual giving of the ½ shekel.

In Parashat P’kudei, we complete the five-week long discussion of the building of the Tabernacle. For this parasha, the Etz Chayim Chumash does not include much commentary, especially in the section under the line that has the generally moral messages of the parasha. So I want to address an overall question about the discussion of the Mishkan: Why all the details? Couldn’t we save space in the Torah, as well as paper in Chumashim, and avoid double parshiyot if the Torah gave the very basics of the building of the Mishkan?

Certainly. But that’s not the point. The Mishkan at that time was the cornerstone location of Jewish life. Though God is present everywhere, his holy presence is most evident in the Mishkan; until the erection of the Beit HaMikdash, the Mishkan was the most hallowed place of the Jewish people. Because of the seriousness of such construction, every detail is important. When you plan a party, for example, you are devoted to making sure that the room looks exactly the way you want it, and you inspect everything to make sure that it’s just right. So the Mishkan was so essential and sacred to our people that every intricacy of its construction was cared for meticulously, and what the Torah therefore demonstrates the devotion that the Israelites had towards the building of the Mishkan.

As we perform our mitzvot every day, may we be as devoted and dedicated in their fulfillment as the Jews were in the building of the Mishkan.





Song for Shabbat

Here's a middle eastern melody for Lecha Dodi, sung by Cantor Aaron Bensoussan in the Conservative movement's Spirit of Shabbat CD.



Did you know...

... that on this Shabbat, we take out not one, not two, but THREE Torah scrolls: one for Shabbat, one for Rosh Chodesh, and one for Shabbat Shekalim? This happens very rarely.



Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!


Judah Kerbel
Hanegev Rel/Ed VP '07-'08
Rel/Ed IGB 2008
yehuda101151@aol.com

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