Articles with the tag: veyakhel

Personality Turnover :kabbalistic Lessons From Adar

A Jewish dog’s problem!
How do you break the kvetch syndrome?

“…the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy.”  (Esther 9:22)
“When the month of Adar enters, we increase in joy.” (Talmud, Taanit 26b)

This year’s special offer: a 60-day program of outlook-modification.

Purim is a time when Jews had plenty to complain about. But they didn’t complain; they took four proactive steps.
1.  They united; working together is critical.
2.  They prayed for a miracle; appreciating Who’s really in charge.
3.  They followed Mordechai; we need strong leadership.
4.  Esther put a pragmatic plan in motion.

Each Adar, we’re offered that opportunity again. There’s much to complain about, but Adar is about joy. Joy means that…

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The Beauty in Holiness (35:30)

“The L-rd has chosen Betzalel…filled him with the spirit of G-d, with wisdom, understanding and knowledge in all kinds of crafts; to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.” (Ex. 35: 30-33)

This is not the first time we’ve encountered the figure of Betzalel. When first introduced, we discovered he was but a thirteen year old lad. But his pedigree was unparalleled. His grandfather was none other than Chur, the fellow who gave up his life trying to stop the construction of the Golden Calf. His great-grandmother Miriam, another rebel, defied the murderous Pharaoh’s order of wholesale infanticide. True,...

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He Demands...effort (35:5)

The Midrash relates that the tribal princes, underestimating the people’s generosity, discovered the only items left to contribute were the precious gems needed for the High Priest’s breastplate. These gems, the Talmud explains, fell from Heaven along with the princes’ portion of Manna. Thus, the monetary value of the princes’ gifts may have surpassed the other offerings, yet they were still taken to task. It’s not the cost of the donation that counts, as G-d does not need our money, only our effort. Therefore, the princes’ offering, which was unearned, did not leave G-d very impressed. 

It was for this reason that all the gifts had to be,  “Asher yidvenu libo - according to a person’s generosity.”  Had the people…

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The Mishkan Metamorphosis (35:2)

Let’s learn a little kaballah.

The two commandments in the Bible of building the Sanctuary and resting on the Shabbos /are placed side by side to teach us that the former gives way to the latter. The Talmud observes that the connection between these two mitzvohs is not happenstance. Indeed according to the Sages, the thirty nine malachos (forms of constructive actions) which are forbidden on t

The seventh day of rest actually parallel the thirty nine types of labor that were necessary to build the Mishkan.
This association between Shabbos and Sanctuary becomes clearer when we remember that the Torah’s purpose of a weekly rest is so that we can emulate G-d who fashioned the world in six days….

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The Geometry of Time (35:2)

Now that the Second Tablets had been brought down from Sinai, the construction of a Sanctuary that would house this Testimony of Law became crucially relevant. This was especially true after the aberration of the Golden Calf. In light of the nation’s spiritual weakness, they understood the need for a Temple that would remind them of the Divine presence in their midst.

Nonetheless, this House of G-d, as important as it was, did not obviate the requirement to observe the strictures of Shabbat rest. And so, this week’s reading which details the Temple work in progress relates, “On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy to you.”  Many of the commentaries wonder why the…

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Who Does the Work? (35:2)

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day shall be to you a holy day, a Sabbath of solemn rest.”
These words provide the opening line in this week’s portion and the explanation of one of life’s greatest religious paradoxes.  If G-d is the source of all blessing, why work in order to succeed?  And if we do work, how can we avoid the thought that it is our labor alone that produces results?

The conflict between absolute passivity on one hand and denial of G-d’s involvement in the affairs of man can be resolved in light of the previous passage.  The sentence,  “Six days shall work be done,”  uses the passive form of the verb.  Had it…

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He Demands Effort

The Midrash relates that the tribal princes, underestimating the people’s generosity, discovered the only items left to contribute were the precious gems needed for the High Priest’s breastplate. These gems, the Talmud explains, fell from Heaven along with the princes’ portion of Manna. Thus, the monetary value of the princes’ gifts may have surpassed the other offerings, yet they were still taken to task. For it’s not the cost that counts, as G-d does not need our money, only our effort. Therefore, the princes’ offering, which was unearned, did not leave G-d very impressed. 

It was for this reason that all the gifts had to be, “Asher yidvenu liebo - according to a person’s generosity.” Had the people been taxed,...

Continue reading He Demands Effort

Who Does the Work?

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day shall be to you a holy day, a Sabbath of solemn rest.”

These words provide the opening line in this week’s portion and the explanation of one of life’s greatest religious paradoxes.  If G-d is the source of all blessing, why work in order to succeed?  And if we do work, how can we avoid the thought that it is our labor alone that produces results?
The conflict between absolute passivity on one hand,  and denial of G-d’s involvement in the affairs of man,can be resolved in light of the previous passage.  The sentence, “six days shall work be done,”  uses the passive form of the verb.  Had it been…

Continue reading Who Does the Work?

The Miskan Metamorphosis

Let’s learn a little kaballah.

The two commandments in the Bible of building the Sanctuary and resting on the Shabbos are placed side by side to teach us that the former gives way to the latter. The Talmud observes that the connection between these two mitzvohs is not happenstance. Indeed according to the Sages, the thirty nine malachos (forms of constructive actions) which are forbidden on the seventh day of rest actually parallel the thirty nine types of labor that were necessary to build the Mishkan.

This association between Shabbos and Sanctuary, becomes clearer when we remember that the Torah’s purpose of a weekly rest is so that we can emulate G-d who fashioned the world in six days. But…

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Torah & Economic Evaluation

After this week’s customary reading of the Biblical portion, there will be an additional Torah scroll that is unfurled. It is from this second Sefer Torah that we will hear of the ancient requirement that every Israelite was to contribute a half-shekel as “a ransom for his soul”.  This mandated donation atoned for the sin of the Golden Calf.  In actual practice, the collected monies were used to acquire the public offerings brought upon the Altar and also for the upkeep of the Temple itself.

This special Maftir reading has even entered into the language, and therefore the consciousness, of our people. That is the reason why synagogue-going Jews refer to this weekend as Shabbos Shekolim.
This intimate association of…

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The Geometry of Time

Now that the Second Tablets had been brought down from Sinai, the construction of a Sanctuary that would house this Testimony of Law became crucially relevant. This was especially true after the aberration of the Golden Calf. In light of the nation’s spiritual weakness, they understood the need for a Temple that would remind them of the Divine presence in their midst.

Nonetheless, this House of G-d, as important as it was, did not obviate the requirement to observe the strictures of Shabbat rest. And so, this week’s reading which details the Temple work in progress relates, “On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy to you.” Many of the commentaries wonder why the…

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Response & Responsibility

All around the world, Jewish communities in Europe, South America, Australia and in our very own Sunshine State will be heading to their synagogues this Shabbat to read the two final portions of the book of Exodus and shake their heads in puzzlement about the situation in Israel.

Questions such as, “What can we do” to “What should we do” are heard in between the Aliyot, as the various people are being called to the Torah. So understanding full well that even the weekly sermon might be lost amidst the murmur, let me share one thought with you now as I have your attention momentarily diverted.

The Biblical portions we will peruse deal with the fulfillment by the Israelites of…

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