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Parsha VAYAKHEL

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William Hamilton

Mar 9, 2018, 7:27 PM

‘Do something with all this mess that was left here’

Students returned to their Parkland, Florida High School two weeks after the destruction. Israeli trauma-survival specialists brought some advice. But the voices of the students remained revealing. “There is no rule book or guidelines to follow” one continued, “we’re...

Mar 8, 2018, 8:53 PM

Illustration of the Ark at the erection of the Tabernacle and the sacred vessels, as in Exodus 40:17-19, from 1728. (Gerard Hoet and others, published by P. de Hondt in The Hague/ Wikipedia)

Our highest achievement is self-limitation -- moving ourselves over for the sake of someone else (Vayakhel-Pekudei)

Mar 8, 2018, 1:37 PM

The Jewish value of sanctifying intimacy [Parshat Vayak’hel / Pekudei]

The Sanctuary and all of its furnishings are described in exquisite detail in this week’s Torah portion, Vayak’hel-Pekudei, with one exception: the Ki’ur, the large wash basin in which the priests sanctified themselves by washing their hands and feet...

Mar 7, 2018, 9:48 PM

Enduring Investment: Parshat Vayakheil, 5778

The Nesi’im The Nesi’im (Princes of the Tribes of Israel) make a magnanimous gesture of philanthropy; they underwrite all the donations and contributions needed to build the elaborate Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the dessert. After the community has brought its donations,...

Ariel Ben Avraham

Mar 4, 2018, 7:13 PM

Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei: Living our bond with God (II)

“Them has He filled with wisdom of heart (…)” (Exodus 35:35) This verse appears in the context of the two men God chose to craft the items and utensils for the Tabernacle, in order to tell us that all the...

Apr 6, 2017, 9:01 PM

Mirror, Mirror, Made of Copper

A fascinating and common understanding of the water Laver (the Kiyor) in the Mishkan, was that it was formed from the copper mirrors that the women had brought out of Egypt. This was the vessel used to provide water...

William Hamilton

Mar 24, 2017, 9:01 PM

Bad leaps of faith

The news that the perpetrator of months of emotional terror inflicted on Jewish communities nationwide is an American-Israeli struck at our world like a thunderclap. Self-inflicted harm stings. Forceful condemnation from Jewish leaders is necessary - the opposite of...

Mar 24, 2017, 9:09 AM

Building the Tabernacle

Parashat Vayakhel and Pekudei are read together this year, the sum of their gematria is 351, which is the triangle number of 26: Vayakhel וַיַּקְהֵל 151 Pekudei פְקוּדֵי 200 351 26 is the gematria of YHVH, the key theme of both portions is about building the...

Mar 23, 2017, 6:15 PM

Shabbat as Rectification For the Sin of the Golden Calf

Parshat Vayakhel starts directly after Moshe descends from Har Sinai the second time upon successfully gaining G-d's forgiveness on behalf of the nation for the sin of the golden calf. Moshe gathers all of the Israelites to relay the...

Mar 23, 2017, 4:47 PM

The path of individual and national freedom

WATCH: “Ask the Rabbi, ‘Are we allowed to text on Shabbat?'” — Rabbi Riskin’s video insights into Parshat Vayakhel-Pikudei PARSHAT VAYAKHEL-PIKUDEI / SHABBAT HA-HODESH Efrat, Israel -- “And he erected the courtyard around the sanctuary and the altar, set up the...

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