It’s time to consider Parasha HaShavua. In Vayakhel, the commandment to keep Shabbat is repeated right at the beginning! This double command is very important, as it was also required in the previous parasha. One might think that after Moshe Rabbeinu shattered the first pair of tablets, it’s now too late. This is not the case. In Vayakhel, he gathers all the Children of Israel and speaks to them as a father speaks to his children—firmly and sternly. He admonishes that anyone who works on Shabbat, that is, who makes this day a creative day on which something is changed, shall be put to death. This extreme instruction illustrates the extreme importance of Shabbat. A „heave-off,“ a gift for the construction of the Temple, is to be given to the Lord—from everyone whose heart desires it. He speaks of gold, silver, and copper. This is clearly evident in the presentation of Aaron, the first Kohen haGadol of Israel, in the parasha. It is important to recognize that both women and men participate in this process of giving to the Sanctuary. They all contribute with their individual talents. See Exodus 35:25. The women are listed first, followed by the princes who brought the shoham stones and the stones for the ephod (the breastplate of the Kohen haGadol). Finally, Exodus 35:29 states: „All the men and women whose hearts were inclined to do all the work that the Lord commanded through Moses to do—they brought them as a gift to the Lord.“

If one examines the content more closely, it is striking that Moshe Rabbeinu successfully obtained forgiveness for the sin of the Golden Calf. Two things are important to me here: One must remember these events so that one can attain the prerequisite for an awareness of the forgiveness of this great spiritual defeat and transgression. The joy with which a new beginning becomes possible for everyone can now be all the greater. Moshe Rabbeinu descends with a second pair of tablets and gathers the Jewish people. What is the purpose of this gathering?!! It is about the Jewish people understanding, above all, that G-d’s desire is to build a sanctuary – nothing else. The brief but very clear, indicative admonition to keep Shabbat, which comes at the beginning, is very important. He then describes in great detail and at length which materials are needed to construct the Tabernacle, and it becomes increasingly clear that the entire Jewish people, everyone, is involved. Men and women equally generously donate all the materials that Moshe Rabbeinu lists.

Then Oholiab and Bezalel are listed, who receive these donations as foremen and construct the Tabernacle. The people continue to donate generously until the craftsmen inform Moshe Rabbeinu that they have more than enough to complete their tasks. Therefore, Moshe Rabbeinu proclaims that all donations should cease. It is also important to recognize that there is close contact between Oholiab and Bezalel with Moshe Rabbeinu, and he listens to them.

For my part, I surrender any acquired rights I may have acquired in the past to the true and only King we have—Hashem—and will participate in our Jewish tradition, which dates back to this time.

Shabbat Shalom.