Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

  • Reset
Category

Back to Home -> 5786 ->


Home -> Vayakhel -> 5786

ויבאו האנשים על הנשים כל נדיב לב

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Vayakhel

The men came with the women, everyone whose heart motivated him. (35:22)

The outpouring of financial support for the Mishkan was overwhelming.  They could not stop the people from donating.  This is an anomaly in the world of fundraising.  Anyone who has ever attempted to raise funds for a worthy cause will agree that it is often like pulling teeth.  Some give more readily than others, but, for most people, separating themselves from the contents of their wallets requires real effort.  Yet this reality did not play itself out during the appeal for the Mishkan.  Then, everyone came forward immediately.  Not only did they give willingly, they gave to the point that…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5786

ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה וביום השביעי יהיה לכם קדש שבת שבתון לד'

Sruly Schnair
In 5786, Vayakhel

On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for Hashem. (35:2)

Noticeably, Hashem first issued the command to build the Mishkan in Parshios Terumah and Tetzaveh. In Parashas Ki Sissa, He reiterated the laws of Shabbos.  Moshe Rabbeinu, on the other hand, begins Parshas Vayakhel with the laws of Shabbos. Afterwards, he gives a recounting of the construction of the Mishkan.  Why did Moshe alter from Hashem’s derech, way?  Gur Aryeh explains that Moshe did not relate all the laws of the Mishkan at one time, but rather, over a few days.  He feared that, if he did not complete delivering the laws before Shabbos, they – not knowing that the…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5785

והם הביאו אליו עוד נדבה בבקר בבקר

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayakhel

But they continued to bring him free-willed gifts morning after morning. (36:3)

In his Avodas Ha’Gershuni, commentary to Shir HaShirim, the nephew of the Gaon, zl, m’Vilna (son of Horav Avraham, the Gaon’s brother) writes that he heard from his revered uncle a reason why Succos is celebrated during the month of Tishrei (fifteenth), rather than Nissan which coincides with the liberation from Egypt. The Torah (Vayikra 23:43) indicates that the Succos festival was initiated because, “I caused Bnei Yisrael to dwell in succos/huts when I took them out of the land of Egypt.” If so, why is Succos not celebrated in Nissan? The Gaon explains that the underlying reason for Succos…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5785

קחו מאתכם תרומה לד' כל נדיב לבו יביאה את תרומת ד' זהב וכסף ונחושת

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayakhel

Take from yourselves a portion for Hashem; everyone whose heart motivates him shall bring it, as a gift for Hashem: gold, silver, copper. (35:5)

Chazal (Shemos Rabbah 49:2) teach that zahav, gold, kesef, silver; and nechoshes, copper – all allude to the Avos, three Patriarchs. The connotation of the pasuk (based upon Chazal’s interpretation) is that the Shechinah rests His Divine Presence in the Mishkan in the merit of the three Avos. Gold alludes to Avraham, whose faith was put to a test when he was flung into a furnace – a process which is used to refine gold. Silver represents Yitzchak, who was purified when he was bound upon the Altar. Unlike gold, which is heated in a furnace to test its quality,…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5785

לא תבערו אש בכל משבתים ביום השבת

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayakhel

You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the Shabbos day. (35:3)

The Gemorah records a debate among Chazal (Shabbos 70a) about why the Torah singled out the prohibitive mitzvah of creating fire on Shabbos – as opposed to the other 38 acts of labor. One Tanna opines havarah l’lav yatzas, havarah, kindling fire, was singled out to be a mere prohibition – not a capital crime. The other Tanna contends havarah l’chaleik yatzas, it was singled out to separate the melachos, forms of labor, into distinct categories of liability. Each melachah is an act of chillul Shabbos and carries with it its own punishment. If one performs two melachos, he is…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5785

ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה וביום השביעי יהיה לכם קדש

Sruly Schnair
In 5785, Vayakhel

On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you. (35:2)

Of the seven days of the week, Shabbos stands out as kodesh, holy, consecrated for Hashem. Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 11:8) relates a dialogue that ensued between Shabbos and Hashem: “Shabbos said before Hashem, ‘All of the days of the week have a zug/mate, but I have no mate.’ Hashem replied, ‘Knesses Yisrael will be your mate!’” Simply put, each day of the week is matched with another day (Sunday/ Monday, Tuesday/ Wednesday, Thursday/ Friday), making three matches, leaving Shabbos as the odd day out. Others explain that each day of the week has as its mate the various entities which…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5784

ויאמר משה אל בני ישראל ראו קרא ד' בשם בצלאל בן אורי... וימלא אותו רוח אלקים בחכמה בתבונה ובדעת... ולחשוב מחשבות... ולהורות נתן בלבו

Sruly Schnair
In 5784, Vayakhel

Moshe said to Bnei Yisrael, “See, Hashem has proclaimed by name, Betzalel son of Uri… He filled him with G-dly spirit, with wisdom, insight and knowledge… To weave designs… He gave him the ability to teach.” (35:30,31,32,33,34)

Betzalel was filled with a G-dly spirit, with various forms of wisdom and understanding. The Torah goes on to state v’lachashov machashavos, which is translated as the ability to put his extraordinary wisdom to practical use. Furthermore, he was granted the ability to teach. Is it not all part of the “wisdom package”? If one is Heavenly endowed with uncanny wisdom and ability, what is added by his ability to weave designs and mentor others? Targum Onkelos defines v’lachashov machshavos as u’lalfa u’manin, to train others in how to carry out the tasks of working with the gold and silver….

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5784

ראו קרא ד' בשם בצלאל בן אורי בן חור

Sruly Schnair
In 5784, Vayakhel

See, Hashem has called by name Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur. (35:30)

The Torah mentions Chur twice (other than the three places that he is listed as Betzalel’s grandfather). Who was Chur, and how important was he as a member of Klal Yisrael’s spiritual leadership? The first time that Chur is mentioned concerns the war against Amalek. This despicable nation ignored Klal Yisrael’s special status as Hashem’s chosen people and attacked them shortly after their liberation from Egyptian slavery. Moshe Rabbeinu sent Yehoshua to lead the Jewish men in battle against Amalek. Our leader stood and prayed with his hands spread out. As long as Moshe’s hands remained straight (out), Yehoshua prevailed….

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5784

ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה וביום השביעי יהיה לכם קדש

Sruly Schnair
In 5784, Vayakhel

On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you. (35:2)

Rashi teaches that, in the text, the mitzvah of shemiras Shabbos precedes the building of the Mishkan to warn us that shemiras Shabbos overrides the building of the Mishkan. Interestingly, in Parashas Ki Sisa (preceding the creation of the molten Gold Calf), the Torah introduces the mitzvah of building the Mishkan prior to mentioning the injunction concerning Shabbos. The Chidushei HaRim explains that, prior to the sin of the Golden Calf, the six weekday/workdays prepared for Shabbos Kodesh. (Shabbos was the focal point of the week, with each day bringing one closer to the ultimate goal of Shabbos Kodesh.) After…

Continue Reading

Home -> Vayakhel -> 5783

ויעש בצלאל את הארון עצי שיטים ... ויצפהו זהב טהור מבית ומחוץ

Sruly Schnair
In 5783, Vayakhel

Betzalel made the Aron of Shittim/Acacia wood … He covered it with gold within and without. (37:1,2)

The Aron Hakodesh represents Torah and its disseminators. Torah is the lifeblood of our people. Thus, the Aron received special status within the framework of the Mishkan. It was a box constructed of wood, which was covered inside and outside with gold. All one saw was the gold. While the Torah scholar receives enormous esteem (or should) from the ha’mon am, general community, the wood is a reminder to him not to allow the accolades to make him lose sight of his inner essence. Humility should prevail over external praise. Rabbeinu Chananel views the arrangement of gold on wood as…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!