March 8, 2024 · ד״פשת
A PEEK AT
THE PARSHA
Parshat Vayakhel begins with Moshe gathering Bnei Yisrael for an important message. This gathering takes place the day after he brought down the second set of Luchot (Tablets). Moshe reminds everyone about the importance of keeping Shabbat. He instructs Bnei Yisrael to work for six days and then to rest on the Shabbat. Moshe also says not to make a fire on Shabbat. Moshe then discusses the building of the Mishkan and that the building may not take place on Shabbat.
Moshe then asks Bnei Yisrael to return to their tents and donate whatever personal items they can for Mishkan. They donated the required materials in
ONE BIG IDEA
Everyone contributed to the building of the Mishkan, but to build it, Hashem chose Bezalel and other "wise-hearted" men and women who had special talents in all the crafts needed to make everything. While we all must do mitzvot, there are ways each of us can make a mitzvah a little differentby using the talents we each have. For example, like the builders of the Mishkan, if we love art, we can make our Sukkot beautiful. If we love singing, we can sing our tefilot beautifully. If we love to think, we can try to understand the reasons for certain mitzvot. We can use our talents to make mitzvot more meaningful to us and to others.
abundance. They brought gold, silver and copper, blue, purple and red-dyed wool, goat hair, spun linen, animal skins, wood, olive oil, herbs and precious stones. Moshe had to tell Bnei Yisrael to stop donating because there was too much!
A teamof wise artisans, led by Bezalel andOhaliav, built the Mishkan and all of the other furnishings that were discussed in the previous Parshiot Hashem gave extra wisdom to anyone who volunteered in the building of the Mishkan.
The Parsha discusses the details of the Mishkan. For example, the roof coverings, gold-plated wall panels, silver foundation sockets; the Parochet (veil) that separates between the Sanctuary’s two chambers, and the Masach (screen) that fronts it; the Aron (Ark) and its cover with the Kruvim (Cherubim); the Shulchan (table) and its Lechem Hapanim (Showbread), the Menorah, with its specially prepared oil; the Mizbayach Hazahav (Golden Altar) and the incense that burned on it.
The Parsha also describes the building of the Kiyor (Laver), the vessel used by the Kohanim each day to wash their hands and feet before doing their service in the Mishkan. The women donated copper mirrors to the Mishkan.
דא
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תשרפ להקיו TIMES - םינמז Candle-lighting: 5:37pm Havdalah: 6:33pm allah: 5:25pm
ח"כ
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Parashat Vayakhel ·
PARSHA STATS DID YOU KNOW…?
Mitzvot ..............................1
LinesintheTorah ..............211(22nd most)
Pesukim .............................122(17th most)
Words ................................1558(24th most)
Letters................................6181(21st most)
Year(s)................................2449
(Source: OU Torah Tidbits)
CHECKLIST
To be filled out after shabbat and brought in Monday.
Calledsomeonetowishthema“Shabbat Shalom”
Wenttoshul
Participatedin Hadlakat Nerot/Kiddush/ Hamotzi/Birkat Hamazon
Sang zemirot/songs
WoreShabbatclothing
HelpedprepareourhomeforShabbat
FullName:______________________________
Class:__________________________________
ParentSignature:_________________________
Israel’s amazing academic institution for art, design and architecture is called Bezalel, named after the Bezalel in our parsha, who designed the Mishkan. Did you know that Bezalel was created in Jerusalem in 1906, 42 years beforethefoundingoftheState ofIsrael?
QUESTIONS
1. What is the name of Israel’s oldest art institution?
2. How many Mitzvot are in this parsha? Do you know what it is?
3. Thought question: What do you think it means to have a “wise heart?”
4. True or False: Bnei Yisrael didn’t donate enough materials to build the Mishkan.
5. The Mishkan was so important! Could Bnei Yisrael build it on Shabbat?