After the Jews sinned with the golden calf they were commanded to construct a Temple for G-d. It took only two days for them to contribute the large amounts of gold, silver, copper, precious stones and other necessary materials! So great was the desire of the Jews to restore G-d’s presence amongst them. Betzalel and …
Tag: Pekudai
Sep 26
Knock! Knock!
Torah Portion Pekudai) Knock! Knock! For many years, after the daily morning prayers, the unforgettable Rabbi Yitzchok (Jack) Werbin o.b.m. would share an insight into the weekly Parsha with the congregants. Once in a while he would pepper his remarks with a memory of his experiences from pre-World War II Europe. I recall him relating …
Sep 26
Spiritual Dividends
(Torah Portion Vayakail/Pekudai) Spiritual Dividends Our leader Moshe was supposed to be in Heaven for 40 days studying the entire Torah from G-d. A segment of the people erroneously calculated that the 40 days had passed and believed Moshe would not return. They panicked and started to rile up a crowd around Moshe’s brother Aaron, …
Sep 26
Huge Bank Deposit!
(Torah Portion Vayakail/Pekudai) Huge Bank Deposit! In last week’s Shabbat Message we spoke about the special radiance and aura that emanates from one’s countenance at the beginning of Shabbos and continues throughout the holy day. Continuing with this theme, the Medrash focuses on a connection between the concluding subject of last week’s portion and the …
Sep 26
Transparency!
(Torah Portion Pekudai) Transparency! The Torah lists the exact calculations where all the contributions to the Temple were appropriated in order to show that the gift of every person, given for sanctified purposes, is special and accounted for. Also, people want to know where their money is going and see that it is distributed in …
Sep 26
We Make it Tangible!
(Torah Portion Vayakail/Pekudai) We Make it Tangible! A Jewish marriage ceremony is called Kiddushin – Sanctification, because the couple begins living a sanctified life. This sanctification comes about by the many aspects of the laws of family purity that breathe holiness into one’s marriage and home. There are also other Mitzvos – commands – that …