Parashat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1 - 38:20)

by Rabbi Aaron Goldstein

Summary

Having gone back up the mountain for another forty days and nights, Moses has returned to the Israelites with the second set of tablets of the Pact. We are told that Moses' face shines with a reflection of the divine glory as he instructs the people about their covenant with God. Having previously given the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle and its accoutrements, we now have the account of its construction which follows the previous descriptions. Seemingly out of place, the portion begins with another instruction to keep Shabbat...

Commentary

...but of course, it is not out of place. The Torah just wants us to compare, a holy (kadosh) space and a holy time. The message is so simple, yet so profound. Only a few words are needed but plenty of thought about how this message applies to our lives.

When the Tabernacle was completed, the Torah states that:

And it came to pass on the day when Moses finished erecting the Tabernacle that he anointed it and sanctified (vay-kadesh) it (Num 7:2)

After the work of Creation:

And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified (vay-kadesh) it (Gen 2:3)

Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote:

To enhance our power in the world of space is our main objective. Yet to have more does not mean to be more

We must not forget that it is not a thing that lends significance to a moment; it is the moment that lends significance to things.

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein

Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue

Rabbi Aaron Goldstein is Assistant Rabbi of Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (see him interview the author, Daniel Mendelsohn about his book, 'The Lost,' Thursday 28th February, 8pm or for Erev Shabbat Friday 29th February, 6:30pm) and Head of Community Development for Liberal Judaism (See Aaron in Peterborough on Shabbat, Saturday 1st March, 10:30am and Manchester, Erev Shabbat, Friday 7th March, 7pm). For more details: 07764 192 696 or a.goldstein@liberaljudaism.org or on Facebook