B"H

Monday, Adar 20, 5786 / March 9, 2026

Now that the holiday of Purim is behind us, we are getting ready for the coming holiday of Pesach (Passover) – the Holiday of Freedom. The first Pesach Seder will be celebrated on Wednesday night, April 1st and the second Seder on Thursday night, April 2nd. In Israel, there is only one Seder on Wednesday night, April 1.

In the next few weeks, we will discuss some of the laws and customs of Pesach.

This coming Shabbat we read the last two Parshiot in the book of Exodus, Parshat Vayakheland Parshat Pekudei, which tell in great detail about the items which the Jewish people donated for the Mishkan-Tabernacleand how they were used. These two Parshiot are mostly a repeat of the two Parshiot, Terumah and Tetzaveh, which we read a few weeks ago.

Q.  What’s the connection between these Parshiot, and the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa?

A.   In the previous Parsha, Ki Tisa, we read the Story of the Golden Calf and the breaking of the Tablets as a result. We read about Moshe’s prayers for G-d’s forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf and Moshe’s coming down with the Second Tablets on Yom Kippur after G-d forgave them. 

Parshat Vayakhel, begins with Moshe gathering the entire congregation and telling them about the donations and construction of the Mishkan. This gathering took place one day after Yom Kippur, the day in which G-d forgave the people for their sin of the Golden Calf. Thus, this Parsha is connected with the previous Parsha, in which we read about the sin of the Golden Calf. The building of the Mishkan was to show that G-d forgave the people for the sin of the Golden Calf.

Q.   Every word, indeed, every letter, in the Torah is precise.  Why is the story of the building of the Mishkan, G-d’s sanctuary and dwelling place, repeated in such great length in the Torah?

A.   As mentioned, the building of the Mishkan was a sign of G-d’s forgiveness for the gravest sin committed by the Jewish people - the sin of worshipping the Golden Calf. The Mishkan is called, “Mishkan Ha’eidut” – “The Mishkan of Testimony.” It served as testimony that G-d forgave them for the sin of the Golden Calf. In order to prove that this sin was forgiven and show that His love for the Jewish people did not waver, G-d instructed Moshe to write about the contributions and the building of the Mishkan in such great length.

Q.   Moshe’s great great nephew, Betzalel, was in charge of the building of the Mishkan; The Torah says, “And Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur of the tribe of Yehuda, had made all that G-d had commanded Moshe.”  How old was Betzalel when he took charge of building the Mishkan? 

A.   Betzalel was only thirteen years old when he built the Mishkan!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & POSITIVE DAY