Hi,
In many years this portion is doubled-up with next week's Pekudei, but this year is a leap year, providing us with extra Shabbatot, so Vayyakhel and Pekudei are spread across two weeks.
Moshe descended from Sinai on Yom Kippur with the second set of Tablets, as recorded in last week's portion, and now the Jews were ready to begin building the Mishkan, which would be their Temple in the desert and for their initial entry into Israel. On the day after Yom Kippur, the Jews were instructed to keep Shabbat - and that's the way Vayyakhel begins. The Jews needed the instruction to keep Shabbat in order to teach that even construction of the Mishkan would not override Shabbat.
Moshe then communicated all of the building instructions to the Jews, and he recruited craftsmen. The Torah specifies that both men and women volunteered and contributed their materials and their work. Betzalel and Ahaliav were commissioned to lead the work.
The craftsmen soon informed Moshe that the the nation was bringing more supplies than were needed. The fact that they brought extra was, itself, an atonement for the spirit of volunteerism which was involved in creating the Golden Calf.
The Torah then goes out of its way to list everything the Jews made, even though all of these items had already been listed in Gd's instructions to Moshe. This redundancy serves to praise those who donated their time, and to show the value of their efforts.
Moshe was the one to actually assemble the Tabernacle; our Sages teach that Gd specifically left this job to him, so he would have a role in the physical creation of the Tabernacle.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Ki Tisa
Hi,
This week's portion is "Ki Tisa."
The portion begins with instructions for a military census, telling Moshe to collect a half-shekel per male of military age. By using a collection for this purpose rather than a direct count, Moshe establishes the principle that we don't count Jews in a normal manner, separating them one by one from the whole, and this is a practice followed to this day.
Moshe was then instructed regarding creation of a "Kiyyor," the copper sink which was used in the Mishkan. The Kohanim washed their hands and feet with the Kiyyor before entering the Mishkan.
Gd gave Moshe the list of ingredients for the oil employed in anointing the Kohanim and the Mishkan. Gd also gave him the list of ingredients for the daily Ketoret (incense).
Gd appointed Betzalel and Ahaliav as lead craftsmen. The Jews were then reminded to keep Shabbat even during the building of the Mishkan.
The Torah then reverts to the storyline of the Jews in the desert:
After Gd's declaration of the Ten Commandments, Moshe ascended Mount Sinai. After 39 days, the Jews grew concerned that Moshe was not going to come back to them. Some commentators understand that Moshe had told the Jews he would be there for 40 days, and that the Jews erred by including the day he had ascended. Others understand that the Jews had no 40-day deadline, but simply lost patience waiting for Moshe.
The Jews asked Aharon to bring them a replacement leader, just as Aharon had brought them Moshe originally. Aharon stalled them, but they ended up building an altar and a golden calf, and celebrating. The consensus of most commentators is that this was not expected to be a true idol, but only a Moshe-like intermediary between them and Gd.
Gd told Moshe, on Sinai, about the golden calf. Moshe pleaded for the lives of the Jews, and then he descended and saw the calf for himself. Moshe smashed the tablets on which the Ten Commandments had been inscribed.
Moshe punished the creators and worshippers of the calf, and he then turned to Gd and pleaded for the lives of the rest of the Jews. He put his own life on the line, saying it would be better for Gd to erase him if Gd would erase them. Moshe also mentioned that the nations would assume Gd had killed the Jews because He couldn't bring them into Israel. Moshe also blamed Gd for giving the Jews a wealth of gold and leaving them leaderless in the desert in Moshe’s absence.
Gd agreed to let the Jews live. He taught Moshe the 13 Divine attributes of mercy, as a means of appealing to Gd whenever needed.
Gd told Moshe to make a second set of Tablets himself. Gd visibly distanced Himself from the Jews at this point, moving His manifestation outside the camp. The portion ends with a physical sign of the new distance between HaShem and the Jews – the Jews were now unable to bear the glow of Moshe's face after Moshe communicated with Gd, and so Moshe donned a veil when addressing the people.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is "Ki Tisa."
The portion begins with instructions for a military census, telling Moshe to collect a half-shekel per male of military age. By using a collection for this purpose rather than a direct count, Moshe establishes the principle that we don't count Jews in a normal manner, separating them one by one from the whole, and this is a practice followed to this day.
Moshe was then instructed regarding creation of a "Kiyyor," the copper sink which was used in the Mishkan. The Kohanim washed their hands and feet with the Kiyyor before entering the Mishkan.
Gd gave Moshe the list of ingredients for the oil employed in anointing the Kohanim and the Mishkan. Gd also gave him the list of ingredients for the daily Ketoret (incense).
Gd appointed Betzalel and Ahaliav as lead craftsmen. The Jews were then reminded to keep Shabbat even during the building of the Mishkan.
The Torah then reverts to the storyline of the Jews in the desert:
After Gd's declaration of the Ten Commandments, Moshe ascended Mount Sinai. After 39 days, the Jews grew concerned that Moshe was not going to come back to them. Some commentators understand that Moshe had told the Jews he would be there for 40 days, and that the Jews erred by including the day he had ascended. Others understand that the Jews had no 40-day deadline, but simply lost patience waiting for Moshe.
The Jews asked Aharon to bring them a replacement leader, just as Aharon had brought them Moshe originally. Aharon stalled them, but they ended up building an altar and a golden calf, and celebrating. The consensus of most commentators is that this was not expected to be a true idol, but only a Moshe-like intermediary between them and Gd.
Gd told Moshe, on Sinai, about the golden calf. Moshe pleaded for the lives of the Jews, and then he descended and saw the calf for himself. Moshe smashed the tablets on which the Ten Commandments had been inscribed.
Moshe punished the creators and worshippers of the calf, and he then turned to Gd and pleaded for the lives of the rest of the Jews. He put his own life on the line, saying it would be better for Gd to erase him if Gd would erase them. Moshe also mentioned that the nations would assume Gd had killed the Jews because He couldn't bring them into Israel. Moshe also blamed Gd for giving the Jews a wealth of gold and leaving them leaderless in the desert in Moshe’s absence.
Gd agreed to let the Jews live. He taught Moshe the 13 Divine attributes of mercy, as a means of appealing to Gd whenever needed.
Gd told Moshe to make a second set of Tablets himself. Gd visibly distanced Himself from the Jews at this point, moving His manifestation outside the camp. The portion ends with a physical sign of the new distance between HaShem and the Jews – the Jews were now unable to bear the glow of Moshe's face after Moshe communicated with Gd, and so Moshe donned a veil when addressing the people.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tetzaveh
Hi,
Last week’s portion of Terumah dealt with the structure of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), in which the Jews worshipped Gd as they travelled through the desert.
This week’s portion of Tetzaveh gives a brief description of the oil used for the Menorah, and then focuses on the special uniform of the Kohanim. The Kohanim were those who carried out services in the Mishkan.
The portion describes eight garments, four of which were only worn by the Kohen Gadol (Head Kohen). All of the garments were woven from threads of dyed wool and linen, as well as gold.
The garments worn by every Kohen were:
Ketonet – A long shirt
Avnet – A belt
Mitznefet – A turbanesque hat
Michnasayim – A linen undergarment
The additional garments worn by the Kohen Gadol were:
Ephod – A vest
Choshen – A breastplate
Me’il – A long coat
Tzitz – A gold plate which fit on the forehead
The portion then details the process of dedicating the Kohanim to Gd. This week-long program prepared the Kohanim and dedicated their clothing.
The portion concludes with a description of one last piece of Mishkan equipment, the altar of the Ketoret (incense). This altar was located inside the Mishkan, and it was made of wood and coated with gold. It was smaller than the copper altar we discussed last week.
Be well,
Mordechai
Last week’s portion of Terumah dealt with the structure of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), in which the Jews worshipped Gd as they travelled through the desert.
This week’s portion of Tetzaveh gives a brief description of the oil used for the Menorah, and then focuses on the special uniform of the Kohanim. The Kohanim were those who carried out services in the Mishkan.
The portion describes eight garments, four of which were only worn by the Kohen Gadol (Head Kohen). All of the garments were woven from threads of dyed wool and linen, as well as gold.
The garments worn by every Kohen were:
Ketonet – A long shirt
Avnet – A belt
Mitznefet – A turbanesque hat
Michnasayim – A linen undergarment
The additional garments worn by the Kohen Gadol were:
Ephod – A vest
Choshen – A breastplate
Me’il – A long coat
Tzitz – A gold plate which fit on the forehead
The portion then details the process of dedicating the Kohanim to Gd. This week-long program prepared the Kohanim and dedicated their clothing.
The portion concludes with a description of one last piece of Mishkan equipment, the altar of the Ketoret (incense). This altar was located inside the Mishkan, and it was made of wood and coated with gold. It was smaller than the copper altar we discussed last week.
Be well,
Mordechai
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Terumah
Hi,
This week's portion is Terumah.
The portion begins with instructions for building the Mishkan, a Tabernacle which would travel through the desert with the Jews, and would be the focal worship site for them.
There is some debate as to whether these instructions for the Mishkan were presented before the Jews sinned in building the idolatrous Golden Calf, or whether the Mishkan was Gd’s response to the Golden Calf. According to the latter explanation, Gd had initially intended to manifest Himself to each person individually, and then the Golden Calf changed His approach.
Here is a brief outline of the items described in our Torah portion:
Aron – Ark
This held the tablets Moshe brought back from Sinai. There may have been two of these Arks, one for the tablets Moshe broke and one for the second set; it is not clear from the Torah’s text.
The Aron was a rectangular box made of wood, coated inside and outside with gold. There was a gold lid, too, and statues of two K’ruvim (Cherubs) topped the lid. The Aron stood in the western part of the Mishkan.
Shulchan – Table
This table held twelve loaves of bread, which remained there from one Shabbat to the next.
It was made of wood, with gold plating. It stood in front (East) of the Aron, but off to the north.
M’norah – Candelabrum
The seven-branched M’norah was lit each night.
It was made of a single chunk of gold, and was beautified with inlaid designs. It stood in front (East) of the Aron, but off to the south, opposite the Shulchan.
Mishkan – The Tent
The Mishkan was a roof made of drapes, woven from various types of threads. The roof was supported by wood posts, which themselves had silver supports at their bases. The drapes were covered by colorful hides.
Parochet – Curtain
There was one curtain hanging in front of the Aron, and a second curtain hanging at the entrance of the Mishkan.
Copper Mizbeiach - Copper altar
This altar was a hollow wood structure. The wood was coated with copper.
Chatzeir – Yard
There were a set of wood posts, with copper and silver supports, running around a yard around the Mishkan. The posts held woven walls.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is Terumah.
The portion begins with instructions for building the Mishkan, a Tabernacle which would travel through the desert with the Jews, and would be the focal worship site for them.
There is some debate as to whether these instructions for the Mishkan were presented before the Jews sinned in building the idolatrous Golden Calf, or whether the Mishkan was Gd’s response to the Golden Calf. According to the latter explanation, Gd had initially intended to manifest Himself to each person individually, and then the Golden Calf changed His approach.
Here is a brief outline of the items described in our Torah portion:
Aron – Ark
This held the tablets Moshe brought back from Sinai. There may have been two of these Arks, one for the tablets Moshe broke and one for the second set; it is not clear from the Torah’s text.
The Aron was a rectangular box made of wood, coated inside and outside with gold. There was a gold lid, too, and statues of two K’ruvim (Cherubs) topped the lid. The Aron stood in the western part of the Mishkan.
Shulchan – Table
This table held twelve loaves of bread, which remained there from one Shabbat to the next.
It was made of wood, with gold plating. It stood in front (East) of the Aron, but off to the north.
M’norah – Candelabrum
The seven-branched M’norah was lit each night.
It was made of a single chunk of gold, and was beautified with inlaid designs. It stood in front (East) of the Aron, but off to the south, opposite the Shulchan.
Mishkan – The Tent
The Mishkan was a roof made of drapes, woven from various types of threads. The roof was supported by wood posts, which themselves had silver supports at their bases. The drapes were covered by colorful hides.
Parochet – Curtain
There was one curtain hanging in front of the Aron, and a second curtain hanging at the entrance of the Mishkan.
Copper Mizbeiach - Copper altar
This altar was a hollow wood structure. The wood was coated with copper.
Chatzeir – Yard
There were a set of wood posts, with copper and silver supports, running around a yard around the Mishkan. The posts held woven walls.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Mishpatim
Hi,
This week our portion is Mishpatim.
Mishpatim follows up the revelation at Mount Sinai with relatively prosaic laws about human relationships. This indicates the great emphasis we place on treating others well – right after we learn "I am the Lord Your Gd," "Do not take My Name in vain," we also learn about our responsibility to protect the property and person of others, and about giving charity and free loans.
Among the sub-topics discussed is the institution of slavery. Note that this is not the cruel slavery of the American hemisphere; it’s a long-term, binding business contract. Slavery was entered into willingly, with a transaction; the slave was not kidnapped from his land and brought elsewhere. The slave could not be abused, either physically or psychologically. The slave could not be given painfully difficult work.
Non-Jewish slaves had a special way out of slavery - before a year of slavery was up, they were given a choice of beginning a conversion process (to be completed after their slavery ended), or leaving their servitude. If they opted not to convert, the master had no choice but to let them go or to sell them to a non-Jew.
The slave received the best of the household – if there was one bed, the slave took the bed and the master slept on the floor. The only advantage for the master was that he received a guaranteed employee. Other employees could bolt or demand more money at any time, but a slave contracted away those rights for the given period of slavery.
We also learn in this portion about responsibility for damage caused by one’s property, and responsibility for the safety of property left in one’s charge.
We are admonished to give charity, to give loans without interest, and to refrain from collateral and bill-collection practices which would make life difficult for a borrower.
The portion concludes with Gd's promise to bring the Jews to Israel safely and with blessings. The Torah recounts the offering the Jews brought at Sinai, and their acceptance of the Torah. Moshe then ascended the mountain to study the Torah for 40 days.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week our portion is Mishpatim.
Mishpatim follows up the revelation at Mount Sinai with relatively prosaic laws about human relationships. This indicates the great emphasis we place on treating others well – right after we learn "I am the Lord Your Gd," "Do not take My Name in vain," we also learn about our responsibility to protect the property and person of others, and about giving charity and free loans.
Among the sub-topics discussed is the institution of slavery. Note that this is not the cruel slavery of the American hemisphere; it’s a long-term, binding business contract. Slavery was entered into willingly, with a transaction; the slave was not kidnapped from his land and brought elsewhere. The slave could not be abused, either physically or psychologically. The slave could not be given painfully difficult work.
Non-Jewish slaves had a special way out of slavery - before a year of slavery was up, they were given a choice of beginning a conversion process (to be completed after their slavery ended), or leaving their servitude. If they opted not to convert, the master had no choice but to let them go or to sell them to a non-Jew.
The slave received the best of the household – if there was one bed, the slave took the bed and the master slept on the floor. The only advantage for the master was that he received a guaranteed employee. Other employees could bolt or demand more money at any time, but a slave contracted away those rights for the given period of slavery.
We also learn in this portion about responsibility for damage caused by one’s property, and responsibility for the safety of property left in one’s charge.
We are admonished to give charity, to give loans without interest, and to refrain from collateral and bill-collection practices which would make life difficult for a borrower.
The portion concludes with Gd's promise to bring the Jews to Israel safely and with blessings. The Torah recounts the offering the Jews brought at Sinai, and their acceptance of the Torah. Moshe then ascended the mountain to study the Torah for 40 days.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Yitro
Hi,
This week's portion is Yitro.
The Torah portion of Yitro begins as the Jews travel through in the desert, after Amalek’s surprise attack on them. Yitro (aka Jethro), Moshe’s father-in-law, comes to see them; he is inspired by Gd’s miracles. We are taught that Yitro was particularly inspired by Gd’s interest in human actions, as seen in the way His reward and punishment matched the Egyptians' actions.
Moshe went out to greet Yitro himself, modeling the way we should greet guests. Yitro stayed and observed the operation of the Jewish camp, and he advised Moshe to arrange a heirarchy of assistant judges to help him. Moshe followed Yitro’s instructions.
The Jews arrived at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai) in the beginning of the month of Sivan, and they prepared to accept Judaism and receive the Torah. The men and women immersed in water, partly as a function of conversion and partly for the purpose of ritual purification. Spouses stayed apart for three days, leading up to the presentation of the Torah.
On the 7th day of Sivan (or, according to some, the 6th), the nation awakened to thunder and lightning and the sound of the Shofar. The earth itself shook, and Mount Sinai produced smoke. The Jews came out to Sinai, and heard the "Aseret haDibrot," the Ten Commandments.
Following this spectacle, Gd told Moshe to warn the Jews not to create idols. Gd pointed out that the whole sound and light show at Har Sinai didn’t involve any image of Gd, and so they should not create images of Gd. Gd then instructed the Jews in the way they should build an altar for Him, noting such laws as the prohibition against cutting the stones in situ with iron, and against using steps for the altar.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is Yitro.
The Torah portion of Yitro begins as the Jews travel through in the desert, after Amalek’s surprise attack on them. Yitro (aka Jethro), Moshe’s father-in-law, comes to see them; he is inspired by Gd’s miracles. We are taught that Yitro was particularly inspired by Gd’s interest in human actions, as seen in the way His reward and punishment matched the Egyptians' actions.
Moshe went out to greet Yitro himself, modeling the way we should greet guests. Yitro stayed and observed the operation of the Jewish camp, and he advised Moshe to arrange a heirarchy of assistant judges to help him. Moshe followed Yitro’s instructions.
The Jews arrived at Har Sinai (Mount Sinai) in the beginning of the month of Sivan, and they prepared to accept Judaism and receive the Torah. The men and women immersed in water, partly as a function of conversion and partly for the purpose of ritual purification. Spouses stayed apart for three days, leading up to the presentation of the Torah.
On the 7th day of Sivan (or, according to some, the 6th), the nation awakened to thunder and lightning and the sound of the Shofar. The earth itself shook, and Mount Sinai produced smoke. The Jews came out to Sinai, and heard the "Aseret haDibrot," the Ten Commandments.
Following this spectacle, Gd told Moshe to warn the Jews not to create idols. Gd pointed out that the whole sound and light show at Har Sinai didn’t involve any image of Gd, and so they should not create images of Gd. Gd then instructed the Jews in the way they should build an altar for Him, noting such laws as the prohibition against cutting the stones in situ with iron, and against using steps for the altar.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Thursday, January 17, 2008
B'shalach
Hi,
This week's portion is B'Shalach.
The Jews flee Egypt. They are too timid to face military opposition, and so Gd doesn’t take them directly to Israel through Philistine territory; instead, He decides to take them around the Philistine area.
Pharaoh decides to pursue the Jews, and he follows them to the Red Sea. When the Jews arrive at the sea, Moshe turns to Gd for help. Gd tells Moshe it’s up to the people to create a miracle, by marching into the sea. The Jews, led by Nachshon ben Aminadav according to the midrash, walk into the sea, and the sea splits. The Egyptians pursue the Jews into the sea. After the Jews pass through on dry land, the sea returns to its former bed and drowns the Egyptian soldiers. The Jewish people sing songs of thanks to Gd after being saved.
The Jews travel for three days, and in that time the only water they find is a pool of bitter water. They complain of a lack of fresh, potable water. Gd instructs Moshe to put a piece of wood into the bitter water, miraculously sweetening it. The Jews camp there, and they learn some of Judaism’s laws.
A month after the Jews leave Egypt, they run out of bread. They turn to Gd, and He responds by sending Mun from the heavens. The Mun was ready to eat, but could also be baked and processed. The Jews receive a daily portion each morning, carefully preserved with upper and lower layers of dew. They receive a double portion on Friday, and they are told not to go out to collect the Mun on Shabbat. Some of the people disobey and try to collect on Shabbat.
Moving along, the Jews arrive at a place called Rephidim and complain again of a lack of water. Gd tells Moshe to strike a rock, to cause water to emerge. Moshe does this, and the nation drinks.
The Jews are then attacked by the nation of Amalek. Amalek himself was a grandson of Esav, Yaakov’s twin brother. Amalek attacks the weak stragglers, unprovoked, from behind. The Jews, with Moshe praying to Gd and with Moshe's student Yehoshua as general, defeat Amalek. Gd instructs the Jews to remember this battle, and the evil of Amalek, eternally. He also instructs the Jews to fight to destroy the evil of Amalek, across the generations.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is B'Shalach.
The Jews flee Egypt. They are too timid to face military opposition, and so Gd doesn’t take them directly to Israel through Philistine territory; instead, He decides to take them around the Philistine area.
Pharaoh decides to pursue the Jews, and he follows them to the Red Sea. When the Jews arrive at the sea, Moshe turns to Gd for help. Gd tells Moshe it’s up to the people to create a miracle, by marching into the sea. The Jews, led by Nachshon ben Aminadav according to the midrash, walk into the sea, and the sea splits. The Egyptians pursue the Jews into the sea. After the Jews pass through on dry land, the sea returns to its former bed and drowns the Egyptian soldiers. The Jewish people sing songs of thanks to Gd after being saved.
The Jews travel for three days, and in that time the only water they find is a pool of bitter water. They complain of a lack of fresh, potable water. Gd instructs Moshe to put a piece of wood into the bitter water, miraculously sweetening it. The Jews camp there, and they learn some of Judaism’s laws.
A month after the Jews leave Egypt, they run out of bread. They turn to Gd, and He responds by sending Mun from the heavens. The Mun was ready to eat, but could also be baked and processed. The Jews receive a daily portion each morning, carefully preserved with upper and lower layers of dew. They receive a double portion on Friday, and they are told not to go out to collect the Mun on Shabbat. Some of the people disobey and try to collect on Shabbat.
Moving along, the Jews arrive at a place called Rephidim and complain again of a lack of water. Gd tells Moshe to strike a rock, to cause water to emerge. Moshe does this, and the nation drinks.
The Jews are then attacked by the nation of Amalek. Amalek himself was a grandson of Esav, Yaakov’s twin brother. Amalek attacks the weak stragglers, unprovoked, from behind. The Jews, with Moshe praying to Gd and with Moshe's student Yehoshua as general, defeat Amalek. Gd instructs the Jews to remember this battle, and the evil of Amalek, eternally. He also instructs the Jews to fight to destroy the evil of Amalek, across the generations.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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