Weekly Reading Insights: Pekudeh 5784

Short

Longer

Overview of the Torah Reading

To be read on Shabbat Pekudei, 6 Adar II 5784/March 16, 2024

Torah: Exodus - Ex 38:21-40:38; Haftorah: Kings 1 7:51-8:21.

Pekudei is the 11th Reading out of 11 in Exodus and it contains 4432 letters, in 1182 words, in 92 verses.

Pekudei opens with an accounting of all materials used in making the Tabernacle. Then described are the methods used in making the priests’ clothing. All the labor was carried out as G-d commanded, and Moshe blessed the workers. G-d commanded Moshe how and when to assemble the Tabernacle and dress the priests. When this was completed, G-d’s cloud of glory came and rested on the Tabernacle for all to see. When the cloud would rise, it was a signal for the Jews to travel.


An Essay from
Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, Director of Ascent

(for a free weekly email subscription, click here)


In this week's Torah portion we continue to learn about the building of the Tabernacle. What relevance does this have in 2024? Yes, although the Tabernacle was built 4000 years ago, it is as relevant as ever - as is everything in the Torah -- and has extremely powerful messages to teach us.

The Midrash teaches us one of these messages.
What is the Midrash? It is part of Judaism's oral tradition that accompanied our Holy Torah as the Jewish people's private commentary. It is the insights into the Torah of the sages of the Mishna and the Talmud from 1500-2500 years ago, much of it based on oral teachings from the biblical era. . These sages could SEE the Torah as G-d's will and wisdom with much more clarity than we can.

The verse in this week's portion Pekudei (39/33) says, "They brought the Tabernacle to Moshe."
Rashi comments that while the Jewish people contributed the raw materials and Bezalel and Ohaliav and their team made everything, they were not successful at assembling it. The columns were too heavy. Because Moshe did not have any part on the design or making of the pieces he was given the privilege of erecting it. Even Moshe wondered, and asked G-d how would it be possible for one man erect it. G-d answered, put your hands to it, it will look like you are standing them up, but really they will go up on their own.
(from Likutei Basar Likutei)

The Midrash says the following: She is garbed in strength and glory
and smiles to the last day (Proverbs 31:25). There is a story about R' Abahu who was about to pass away, and was given a chance to peak into the world to come. He saw all of the good things that were waiting for him as a reward for all of his good actions in this world. He became joyful and said, All of this for Abahu!? And I thought I worked for nothing.
The commentaries ask the obvious question. How is it possible that such a great righteous person could have doubted that there would not be a heavenly reward for all of his efforts in this world?
We can understand this with a different story.

The author of the Talmudic commentary, Choshen Yeshuos, once spent Pesach with his son, R' Dov Maizelem. R' Dov was an important community person who spent much of his time saving Jewish debtors from prison. There was a particular person he worked hard to free, pledging his own possessions as collateral, but he was not successful. This upset him very much. His father
told him not to be so upset. If he tried his hardest and was still not successful, it was G-d's decision to keep the person in prison. But he could console himself that G-d would give him the merit as though he had been successful.

How could his father know that? He brought a proof from the above Midrash. It was known that R' Abahu had many connections in the Roman government and constantly tried to use his influence to help his people. As is the nature with this kind of work, there were times that he tried and tried and yet was not successful. Now at the end of his life he was shown that even for the times he had failed, he was still going to be rewarded, even if he perceived that nothing had been accomplished at all.

Why does the Midrash bring this story on the above verse about bringing the Tabernacle to Moshe? One possible answer is that the people who actually made all the pieces of the Tabernacle probably felt bad. When they saw they could not raise it, and therefore had to bring it to Moshe, they thought that they lost the most important part of the merit. This is what the Midrash is telling us, that they were mistaken! As the Midrash quotes "…and smiles to the last day,"
meaning in the end each of us who had the right thoughts and made the appropriate effort, will receive our reward even if we were not able to complete the task.

Shabbat Shalom, Shaul

(for a free weekly email subscription, click here)
For last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this week's Reading, see the archive.


FROM THE SAGES OF KABBALAH ON KabbalaOnline.org

Specifically, for an overview of the recommended articles in the columns:
Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary Kabbalists, and more, click to Pekudei
one sample:

Mystical Classics
The Real Count

From the Ohr HaChaim commentary by Rabbi Chaim (ben Moshe) ibn Attar

The only true count on earth was of the components which comprised the Holy Tabernacle. Normally, G-d objects to a headcount. In this instance G-d did not object; on the contrary - every single component contributed and accounted for increased the amount of blessings G-d bestowed on the Holy Tabernacle.

To continue, click here.

For a free email subscription to our weekly anthology, click here.


For another taste of recommended Kabbalah articles on a variety of subjects,
click to the
our weekly Kabbalah magazine


Back to Top


Redesign and implementation - By WEB-ACTION