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Vayakhel-Pekudei-Parah-Chazak-Shabbat Mevarchim
Nissan
Yearning and Uniting
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B”H
Vayakhel-Pekudei-Parah-Chazak-Shabbat Mevarchim Nissan
Yearning and Uniting
NY City Candle lighting 6:42
Shabbat ends 7:42
Mevarchim Nissan. The Molad is next Friday afternoon, March 20th
at 12:43 and 3 Chalakim
Rosh Chodesh is next Shabbat, March 21
Shalom and Bracha!
This Shabbat we
read from two Torah scrolls. In the first scroll we read a
double portion, Vayakhel and Pekudei. Because this concludes the
book of Shemot (Exodus), we finish off the last reading with the
entire congregation say “Chazak Chazak V’nitchazeik” which means
strength, more strength, and let us be strengthened. This is
because the Torah is the strength of the Jewish people and
concluding a book of the Torah and beginning a new one is a
wellspring of strength and a cause for celebration. In the
second scroll we read the portion of Parah and thereafter bless
the month of Nissan which begins next Shabbat.
Throughout the
last three portions, Hashem has instructed Moshe concerning the
construction of the Tabernacle, the garments of the Kohen, and
the consecration process. In this week’s portions, Moshe
gathered the Jewish people, relays the instructions of Hashem,
and the Jewish people construct the Tabernacle and the garments
and perform the consecration. This year is very special in that
this Shabbat, the 23rd of Adar, is the actual date of
the beginning of the consecration and the first time the
Tabernacle was erected. Seemingly, it is difficult to understand
why we spend so long (five weeks) discussing the measurements of
the Temple and the garments. In truth, however, it is very
important.
One perspective is
that by studying the Temple and the garments, we show our love
for Hashem. When we love and admire someone, we want to know all
about them. If someone offers us a private tour of their home or
a glimpse of their wardrobe or an invite to the opening, out of
love and admiration we would joyfully accept. The Tabernacle is
Hashem’s home and the garments are those that He has chosen to
be worn in his home and the consecration is the opening.
Additionally, each vessel and each garment teaches us a lesson
in bettering ourselves. These portions are our private tour.
Yearning for
Moshiach is central to Judaism. When we don’t see the Temple, we
can G-d forbid reach a situation of “out of sight out of mind.”
When we study the Temple, envisioning the Ark, the Menorah and
the Kohen Gadol in his full splendor, our yearning is aroused
and we serve Hashem with a greater intensity knowing that each
Mitzvah is a building block of the Temple.
Every Mitzvah has
three parts: thought, speech and action. When all three are
possible, action is the most significant and thought and speech
enhance the deed. When action cannot be performed, thought and
speech take their place. This is much like someone who has G-d
forefend lost one of their senses; the other senses to some
extent fill the vacuum. Right now, we cannot construct the
Temple. The Midrash says that when we study the construction of
the Temple it is reckoned as though we were building it. Bearing
in mind the words of the Gemara that every generation that
doesn’t rebuild the Temple is like the generation of the
destruction, studying these portions becomes very desirable.
As mentioned
before, Moshe gathered the Jewish people in order to tell them
this Mitzvah. As Moshe was regularly relaying the commands of
Hashem and it rarely states in the Torah that Moshe gathered the
Jewish people, it is worthwhile to consider why it is mentioned
here. The construction of the Tabernacle and thereafter the
Temple is to reveal Hashem’s presence in the world. Unity is the
prerequisite for Hashem’s revelation. Before the Torah was
given, there had to be unity amongst the Jewish people.
Similarly, before the Jewish people could create a dwelling
place for Hashem, the aspect of unity had to be intensified. The
word Vayakhel comes from the word Kehillah, a congregation.
Moshe didn’t simply gather the Jews; he formed them into one
entity, a congregation.
The importance of
unity is also seen in the festival of Purim that we just
celebrated. Upon hearing of the decree to destroy the Jewish
people, Esther told Mordechai
gather all of the
Jews in Shushan. This display of unity gave her the ability to
overcome the evil decree.
Just as unity was
the prerequisite for the revelation of Hashem’s presence in the
construction of the Tabernacle, unity is a preparation for the
coming of Moshiach. The second Temple was destroyed because of
strife and wanton hatred. Unity will caused it’s rebuilding. May
we speedily merit his coming, and in the words of the prophet
Yirmiyahu terminology Kahal (from the same root as the word
Vayakhel) Gadol Yashuvu Heina (A great
congregation will
return there).
Parshat Parah-Self Sacrifice
For the Maftir, a
special portion, Parshat Parah, is read. Parshat Parah describes
the Mitzvah of the Parah Adumah, the red calf, which was a
necessary purification to enter the Temple in Yerushalayim and
partake in the offerings. Since the entire Jewish people
participated in the Passover offering, about which we read next
week, this week we read about the necessary preparation. All of
the Mitzvot connected to the Temple, in addition to their
application in the time that the Temple stood, have teachings
and meanings in our daily lives. Parshat Parah, in addition to
the general reminder that Pesach is approaching, and that we
must prepare our spirits and our deeds for the rebirth of the
Jewish people that occurs on Pesach, has a very specific
teaching as to the necessary prerequisite to the service of
Pesach.
Whoever came into
contact with a dead body was forbidden to enter the Temple until
he was sprinkled with the ashes of the red heifer mixed with
fresh well water. The ashes were prepared in a very elaborate
ceremony and kept for future generations. This ceremony has been
performed nine times and the final time will be when Moshiach
comes.
The Mitzvah of the
red heifer presents certain paradoxes. Unlike all offerings in
the Temple, the red heifer was slaughtered outside of the
Temple, and outside of the walls of Yerushalayim. However, the
Kohen had to constantly face and see not only the Temple, but
also the inner sanctuary. This was so significant that the
Temple wall facing the Mount of Olives was built lower than the
other walls of the Temple in order that the inner sanctuary
would be visible from the Mount of Olives. Whoever was involved
in preparing the red heifer became ritually impure, and had to
go to the Mikveh and wait until the next day before reentering
the Temple. The ashes, however, were retained at a degree of
sanctity that surpassed even that of the sacrifices.
Coming into
contact with death represents straying from the path of Torah.
The Torah is the tree of life and separation from the Torah cuts
us from our bond of life. When we see a fellow Jew who is astray
from his heritage, the Torah tells us that it is our duty to
help him. The red heifer was prepared outside of the Temple to
teach us that we must be ready to make personal sacrifices and
leave our own ‘sanctuary’ in order to ‘purify’ another. Even the
Kohen Gadol, who is supposed to spend his time inside the Temple
had to leave the Temple in order to purify another Jew and
include him in the Temple service. However, we must constantly
face the inner sanctuary. When reaching out to others, we can
easily make a mistake and provide a diluted Judaism, thinking
that it’s better than what they have now. Facing the inner
sanctuary reminds us that our goal is to bring people to the
Torah, not change the Torah to suit people.
This is echoed in the name of the second portion this week,
Pekudei. Pekudei means enumerations. After the construction of
the Tabernacle the Torah enumerates all of the specific parts
and weights and measurements. This reminds us that every detail
is significant in the eyes of Hashem.
As aforementioned,
the Parah is the prerequisite for Pesach. The birth of the
Jewish people, their survival and final redemption all depend
upon self sacrifice for Jewish continuity.
Maimonides teaches
that the tenth Parah Adumah will be brought by Moshiach. May he
be speedily revealed Amen!!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Biggs
In reverent memory of my mother, Bryna Bas Reb Gedaliah Michoel
Halevy A”H, who’s Yahrtzeit falls this Shabbat. May her soul be
bound in the bond of eternal life with Hashem
A project of Chabad of Great Neck
400 East Shore Rd.
Great Neck NY 11024
516 4874554
fax 516 4874807
There is a great Passover Website at
http://www.chabadgn.com/holidays/passover
