Parshat Vayakhel

Vayak’hel ( Exodus 35:1-38:20)

Moshe has returned from his last visit to the top of Mount Sinai with new tablets.The people are now assured that G-d has forgiven them and this event occurred on the tenth day of Tishrei, which will be declared as Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement.

How do we know this is the right date?

Moshe assembles the people of Israel and reiterates to them the commandments regarding  the Shabbat followed by a repetition of the commandments regarding the building of the tabernacle.

Before the sin of the golden calf G-d conveys the commandment regarding the tabernacle before the Shabbat. After the sin the order is reversed.

Why is that?

The people donate and donate and donate. The word”they brought” VeHeyViYu” is repeated 14 times.

What can we learn from that?

Moshe  has to tell them to stop giving.

G-d tells Moshe to use the  wise-hearted artists to produce the artifacts of the tabernacle and then Moshe tells the people the following:

Moshe said to the children of Israel: “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. . He has imbued him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with insight, and with knowledge, and with [talent for] all manner of craftsmanship “ Exodus 35:30-31)

Why did Moshe have to do that? Was not G-d’s choosing enough? What can be learned from this?

Then just as it was outlined in the previous Torah readings of Terumah, Tetzaveh and Ki Tisa we read of the list of items needed for the tabernacle.

Why again?

Listen to this week’s Podcast:

Parshat Vayak’hel ( Exodus 35:1-38:20 )

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