I held a study of these Parashot together with members of our local community. The recording of the class is accessible at the bottom of this page.
The name of the Parasha, VaYakhel, creates the association to the last commandment, the 613th Mitzvah in Deuteronomy:
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Exodus 35:1 | Deuteronomy 31:12 (VaYelekh): |
וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶֽת כׇּל עֲדַ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽם׃ | הַקְהֵ֣ל אֶת הָעָ֗ם הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְהַנָּשִׁים֙ וְהַטַּ֔ף וְגֵרְךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶ֑יךָ לְמַ֨עַן יִשְׁמְע֜וּ וּלְמַ֣עַן יִלְמְד֗וּ וְיָֽרְאוּ֙ אֶת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם וְשָֽׁמְר֣וּ לַעֲשׂ֔וֹת אֶת כׇּל דִּבְרֵ֖י הַתּוֹרָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ |
Moshe then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that HaShem commanded you to do: | [Moshe instructed them, saying:] Convoke the People—men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities; that they hear and they learn; then they will revere [be in awe of] HaShem your God and they will faithfully observe all the words of this Torah [Teaching]. |
Keeping the Shabbat: A small, but seemingly significant difference is the positioning of the adjective holy. In Vayakhel the seventh day is sacred to the People; in Ki Tisa, it is sacred to HaShem. Maybe another hint to the Divine Spark of God within us? That God is dwelling within us (Exodus 25:8)?
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Exodus 35:2 שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִים֮ תֵּעָשֶׂ֣ה מְלָאכָה֒ וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֥ם קֹ֛דֶשׁ שַׁבַּ֥ת שַׁבָּת֖וֹן לַיהֹוָ֑ה כׇּל הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה ב֛וֹ מְלָאכָ֖ה יוּמָֽת׃ Six days work may be done, and the seventh day you shall have it holy, shabbat of complete cease [of work] to HaShem; whoever does any work on it shall become dead. | Exodus 31:15 (Ki Tisa) שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִים֮ יֵעָשֶׂ֣ה מְלָאכָה֒ וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י שַׁבַּ֧ת שַׁבָּת֛וֹן קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַיהֹוָ֑ה כׇּל הָעֹשֶׂ֧ה מְלָאכָ֛ה בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃ [God instructed Moshe, saying:] Six days work may be done, and on the seventh day there shall be shabbat of complete cease, holy to HaShem; whoever does any work on the shabbat day shall be put to death. |
T’rumah – Elevating Donation: the Hebrew root for the word T’rumah, donation also means to lift up. Indeed, donating to a sacred purpose uplift both the giver and the receiver. The common translations: gift, offering, do not convey that element.
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Exodus 35:5-9 קְח֨וּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶ֤ם תְּרוּמָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ Take (pl) from you (pl) gifts [elevating donation] to HaShem; everyone with one’s all-heart’s generosity shall bring the HaShem’s Elevating Donation; gold, silver, and copper; וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וְעִזִּֽים׃ וְעֹרֹ֨ת אֵילִ֧ם מְאׇדָּמִ֛ים וְעֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים וַעֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּֽים׃ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּא֑וֹר וּבְשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃ וְאַ֨בְנֵי שֹׁ֔הַם וְאַבְנֵ֖י מִלֻּאִ֑ים לָאֵפ֖וֹד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן׃ blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, and goats’ hair; tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense; lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and the breastpiece. | Exodus 25:1-7 (Terumah) דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כׇּל אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִֽי׃ וְזֹאת֙ הַתְּרוּמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּקְח֖וּ מֵאִתָּ֑ם זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ Tell [command] the People of Israel to take for Me gifts [elevating donation]; from every person as one’s all-heart generosity feels you shall take My Elevating Donation [that belongs to Me] . And these are the Elevating Donation that you shall take from them; gold, silver, and copper; וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וְעִזִּֽים׃ וְעֹרֹ֨ת אֵילִ֧ם מְאׇדָּמִ֛ים וְעֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים וַעֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּֽים׃ שֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּאֹ֑ר בְּשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃ אַבְנֵי שֹׁ֕הַם וְאַבְנֵ֖י מִלֻּאִ֑ים לָאֵפֹ֖ד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן׃ blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair; tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense; lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. |
A Wise-at-Heart has the Divine Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and skill to do every kind of craft. What can we learn from comparing the description of what people brought to do the Golden Whatever (calf) and the Tabernacle?
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Exodus 35:10: וְכׇל חֲכַם לֵ֖ב בָּכֶ֑ם יָבֹ֣אוּ וְיַעֲשׂ֔וּ אֵ֛ת כׇּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה יְהֹוָֽה׃ And all among you who are wise-at-heart come forward and do all that HaShem has commanded: | Exodus 31:15 (Ki Tisa): …וּבְלֵ֥ב כׇּל חֲכַם לֵ֖ב נָתַ֣תִּי חׇכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֕וּ אֵ֖ת כׇּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתִֽךָ׃ …and I have also granted skill to all who are wise-at-heart, that they will do everything that I have commanded you: |
Exodus 35:22: וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים עַל הַנָּשִׁ֑ים כֹּ֣ל נְדִ֣יב לֵ֗ב הֵ֠בִ֠יאוּ חָ֣ח וָנֶ֜זֶם וְטַבַּ֤עַת וְכוּמָז֙ כׇּל כְּלִ֣י זָהָ֔ב וְכׇל אִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵנִ֛יף תְּנוּפַ֥ת זָהָ֖ב לַיהֹוָֽה׃ The men and the women came; everyone with one’s all-heart’s generosity, brought brooches, earrings, rings, and pendants – all gold utensils and vessels: every person who lifted up an elevation offering of gold to HaShem. | Exodus 32:2-3 (Ki Tisa): וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן פָּֽרְקוּ֙ נִזְמֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָבִ֖יאוּ אֵלָֽי׃ וַיִּתְפָּֽרְקוּ֙ כׇּל הָעָ֔ם אֶת נִזְמֵ֥י הַזָּהָ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאׇזְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּבִ֖יאוּ אֶֽל אַהֲרֹֽן׃ Aharon said to the men, “remove the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the People removed the gold rings off their ears and brought them to Aharon. |
Exodus 35:32: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רְא֛וּ קָרָ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן אוּרִ֥י בֶן ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ וַיְמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחׇכְמָ֛ה בִּתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכׇל מְלָאכָֽה׃ וְלַחְשֹׁ֖ב מַֽחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת לַעֲשֹׂ֛ת בַּזָּהָ֥ב וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ Moshe said to the Israelitez: See, HaShem called out by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, He endowed him with Divine Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft; to think designs for work in gold, silver, and copper. | Exodus 31:2-4 (Ki Tisa): רְאֵ֖ה קָרָ֣אתִֽי בְשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן אוּרִ֥י בֶן ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחׇכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכׇל מְלָאכָֽה׃ לַחְשֹׁ֖ב מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת בַּזָּהָ֥ב וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ See, I have called out by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I endowed him with Divine Spirit of wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft; to think designs for work in gold, silver, and copper. |
What is the hidden meaning in the difference in order of items that are built? Why it the Ark the first to be listed in T’rumah and only 4th in Vayakhel? The alter is in the 7th place in both places. What does that tell us?
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Order of Building in VaYakhel: 1. Cloth of the Mishkan (36:8-19); 2. Planks ((36:20-34); 3. Curtain and Screen (36:35-38); 4. Ark (37:1-9); 5. Table (37:10-16); 6. Menorah (37:17-24); 7. Altar (37:25 – 38:8); 8. Yard, Enclosure (38:9-20); | Order of Building in Terumah: 1. Ark (25:10-20); 2. Table (25:23-30); 3. Menorah (25:31-40); 4. Cloth of the Mishkan (26:1-14); 5. Planks (26:32); 6. Curtain and Screen (26:33-37); 7. Altar (27:1-8); 8. Yard, Enclosure (27:9-18); |
Exodus 37:9: וַיִּהְי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹֽכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶ֨ל הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת הָי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃ The cherubim had their wings spread out above, shielding the cover with their wings and they faced each other; the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the cover. | Exodus 25:20: וְהָי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶ֨ל הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת יִהְי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃ The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, shielding the cover with their wings and they shall face each other; the faces of the cherubim will be turned toward the cover. |
Any significance in the different order of items (Terumah details the instructions, VaYakhel details the execution)?
Maybe the order of instructions, putting the Ark of the Covenant first, and the Altar the last prompted Isaiah to say (1:11, 16-17):
‘What need have I of all your sacrifices?’ says HaShem, ‘I am sated with burnt offerings of rams and suet of fatlings, and blood of bulls; I have no delight in lambs and he-goats. Wash yourselves clean;Put your evil doings away from My sight. Cease to do evil; Learn to do good, devote yourselves to justice; aid the wronged, uphold the rights of the orphan, defend the cause of the widow. | לָמָּה־לִּ֤י רֹב זִבְחֵיכֶם֙ יֹאמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׂבַ֛עְתִּי עֹל֥וֹת אֵילִ֖ים וְחֵ֣לֶב מְרִיאִ֑ים וְדַ֨ם פָּרִ֧ים וּכְבָשִׂ֛ים וְעַתּוּדִ֖ים לֹ֥א חָפָֽצְתִּי׃ רַֽחֲצוּ֙ הִזַּכּ֔וּ הָסִ֛ירוּ רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶ֖ם מִנֶּ֣גֶד עֵינָ֑י חִדְל֖וּ הָרֵֽעַ׃ לִמְד֥וּ הֵיטֵ֛ב דִּרְשׁ֥וּ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט אַשְּׁר֣וּ חָמ֑וֹץ שִׁפְט֣וּ יָת֔וֹם רִ֖יבוּ אַלְמָנָֽה׃ |
And Isiah 58:5-7:
Is such the fast I desire, ש day for men to starve their bodies? Is it bowing the head like a bulrush and lying in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call that a fast, a day when the LORD is favorable? No, this is the fast I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness, and untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry, and to take the wretched poor into your home; when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to ignore your own kin. | הֲכָזֶ֗ה יִֽהְיֶה֙ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ י֛וֹם עַנּ֥וֹת אָדָ֖ם נַפְשׁ֑וֹ הֲלָכֹ֨ף כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וְשַׂ֤ק וָאֵ֙פֶר֙ יַצִּ֔יעַ הֲלָזֶה֙ תִּקְרָא צ֔וֹם וְי֥וֹם רָצ֖וֹן לַיהֹוָֽה. הֲל֣וֹא זֶה֮ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵ֒הוּ֒ פַּתֵּ֙חַ֙ חַרְצֻבּ֣וֹת רֶ֔שַׁע הַתֵּ֖ר אֲגֻדּ֣וֹת מוֹטָ֑ה וְשַׁלַּ֤ח רְצוּצִים֙ חׇפְשִׁ֔ים וְכׇל מוֹטָ֖ה תְּנַתֵּֽקוּ׃ הֲל֨וֹא פָרֹ֤ס לָרָעֵב֙ לַחְמֶ֔ךָ וַעֲנִיִּ֥ים מְרוּדִ֖ים תָּ֣בִיא בָ֑יִת כִּֽי תִרְאֶ֤ה עָרֹם֙ וְכִסִּית֔וֹ וּמִבְּשָׂרְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִתְעַלָּֽם׃ |
Pekudey means those who were commanded, counted for. From the very same root, we also have commanding officer, census, order (a command). In addition, a secretary: sometimes high-ranking official, sometimes a personal assistant that helps us know what we need to do.
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Exodus 38:25-26: וְכֶ֛סֶף פְּקוּדֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה מְאַ֣ת כִּכָּ֑ר וְאֶ֩לֶף֩ וּשְׁבַ֨ע מֵא֜וֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים שֶׁ֖קֶל בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ בֶּ֚קַע לַגֻּלְגֹּ֔לֶת מַחֲצִ֥ית הַשֶּׁ֖קֶל בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְכֹ֨ל הָעֹבֵ֜ר עַל־הַפְּקֻדִ֗ים מִבֶּ֨ן עֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה לְשֵׁשׁ מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֙לֶף֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת וַחֲמִשִּֽׁים׃ The silver of those of the community who were recorded came to 100 talents and 1,775 shekels by the sanctuary weight: A half-shekel a head, half a shekel by the sanctuary weight, for each one who was entered in the records, from the age of twenty years up, 603,550 men. | Exodus 30:13-14 (Ki Tisa): זֶ֣ה יִתְּנ֗וּ כׇּל הָעֹבֵר֙ עַל הַפְּקֻדִ֔ים מַחֲצִ֥ית הַשֶּׁ֖קֶל בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֤ים גֵּרָה֙ הַשֶּׁ֔קֶל מַחֲצִ֣ית הַשֶּׁ֔קֶל תְּרוּמָ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ כֹּ֗ל הָעֹבֵר֙ עַל הַפְּקֻדִ֔ים מִבֶּ֛ן עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וָמָ֑עְלָה יִתֵּ֖ן תְּרוּמַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃ This is what everyone who is entered in the records shall pay: a half-shekel by the sanctuary weight—twenty gerahs to the shekel—a half-shekel as an Elevating Donation to HaShem. Everyone who is entered in the records, from the age of twenty years up, shall give HaShem’s Elevating Donation: |
Finishing the Job:
VaYakhel – Pekudei | Parallel to: |
Exodus 39:32, 43: וַתֵּ֕כֶל כׇּל עֲבֹדַ֕ת מִשְׁכַּ֖ן אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַֽיַּעֲשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ׃ וַיַּ֨רְא מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת כׇּל הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ עָשׂ֣וּ אֹתָ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה כֵּ֣ן עָשׂ֑וּ וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֹתָ֖ם מֹשֶֽׁה׃ Thus, all the work on the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was completed; The People of Israel did all exactly as HaShem had commanded Moshe, so they did. Moshe saw all the work, and behold, they did it all as HaShem commanded, so they had done; Moshe blessed them. | Genesis 1:31, 2:2-3 (B’reshit): וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת כׇּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ And God saw all that had been made, and found it very good; God finished the work on the seventh day, that He did; God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it holy; |
Midrash Tanḥuma, Pekudey 11:8:
And Scripture adds: And Moses saw all the work (Exod. 39:43). It does not say “all the work of the Tabernacle” but rather all the work, for the words all the work of the Tabernacle would be equal to the work of creation itself, as is stated above.
Rabbenu Bahya (14th Century) uses this midrash to further explain verse 43: The words “Moses saw all the work,” refers to the Ma-aseh B’reshit, the creation of the universe; the Torah deliberately omitted adding the words “the work of the Tabernacle,” in this verse. The purpose of this omission is to teach us that this construction of the Tabernacle was equivalent in a sense to the construction of the universe itself.
חֲזַק חֲזַק וְנִתְחַזֵּק
Ḥazak Ḥazak V’Nitḥazek!
Be Strong, Be Strong and we all be strengthened!
Why are we making this blessing? What is its source? Brakhot 32b:
the Sages taught: Four things require bolstering, constant effort to improve, and they are: Torah, good deeds, prayer, and occupation.
From where is it derived that Torah and good deeds require bolstering? As it is stated in the instruction to Yehoshua: חֲזַק וֶאֱמַץ – ḥazak Ve-Ematz – “Only be strong and be extremely courageous, observe and do all of the Torah that Moshe My servant commanded you; do not deviate to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7). In this verse, observe refers to Torah study and do refers to good deeds (Maharsha). The Gemara derives: Be strong in Torah and be courageous in good deeds.
We celebrate the completion of study of a tractate, or an Order in Mishnah or Talmud (called Siyyum – completion) with a blessing – Hadaran Alakh – we will return to you. So we celebrate the completion of Sefer – a book of the 5 books of Torah, with the knowledge that we will return to this Sefer next year.