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1996-2011 TorahTots.com
PARSHA ON PARADE IS DEDICATED TO
THE MEMORY
OF MY DEAR FATHER AND REBBI:
HARAV HAGAON RAV YESHAYA SHIMANOWITZ Z'TZL ,
ROSH YESHIVA
IN
YESHIVAS RABAINU YAAKOV YOSEF
(RABBI JACOB JOSEPH YESHIVA - RJJ)
IN NYC FOR OVER 23 YEARS.
NIFTAR ON 20 ADAR 5758 - MARCH 18, 1998.
MAY HE BE A MAYLITZ YOSHER FOR ALL OF KLAL YISROEL.
AND
MY DEAR MOTHER
REBITZEN BRACHA ETEL SHIMANOWITZ A'H
WHO DEVOTED HER ENTIRE LIFE TO MY FATHER AND HIS TORAH,
NIFTERA ON 21 TEVET 5770 - WED EVE. JANUARY 6, 2010.
MAY SHE BE A MAYLITZA YOSHER FOR ALL OF KLAL YISROEL .
Menachim Z. Shimanowitz
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dedicate a Parsha or any other section of Torah Tots in honor or in
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For further info, click here.
PARSHA
FACTS
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NO MITZVOT IN THIS PARSHA
There are mitzvot mentioned in Parshat Pekudei related to the Mishkan and the Kohain's garments. However, we count mitzvot at their first occurrence.
NUMBER OF PESUKIM (SENTENCES): 92
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1182
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 4432
(In non-leap years, Pekudei and the previous Parsha, Vayakhel , are read on the same Shabbat.)
During most years, one of three special Shabbatot coincides with Pekudei. This year (5771-2011) is no exception.
This Shabbat, פרשת פקודי, (the Shabbat preceding Rosh Chodesh Adar II ), is פרשת שקלים, Shabbat Parshat Shekalim:
We take out two Sifrei Torah; seven Aliyahs in first Sefer Torah from the weekly Sidrah – Pekudei; Half-Kaddish.
The Maftir, (additional reading), from Shmot / Exodus, Parshat Ki Sisa, (30:11-16), describes the census or counting of every Jew and the obligation to give a Half-Shekel terumah (contribution) during the month of Adar to pay for the public Korbanot (sacrifices) in the Bait Hamikdash in Yerushalayim.
HAFTORA: (Additional portion, from Prophets, which is read after the Parsha)
Melachim II / II Kings 12:1-17 (Ashkenazim);
Melachim II / II Kings 11.17-12.17 (Sepharadim)
This Shabbat is also ערב ראש חדש
Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar II.
Shabbat Mevarchim Chodesh Adar II
Rosh Chodesh - Sunday & Monday, March 6 & 7, 2011.
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| פרשת פקודי
THE PARSHA
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In our last episode, Bnei Yisroel was given a
fresh start as Moshe got the Mishkan project rolling. It
was only a matter of hours before the supply tent was filled with
enough gold, silver, copper and materials to build the Mishkan.
With Betzalel at the creative helm, all the pieces - from loop to
nuts - was completed in a 3 month Mishkan marathon.
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MOSHE
DOES
AN
AUDIT
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As our Parsha opens, three months have gone by and
all the parts of the Mishkan are done. Only the clothing
of the Kohanim and Kohain Gadol remain to be completed.
Moshe puts on his accounting hat and does an audit of all the materials
collected for the Mishkan to determine which supplies went
for what purpose. Afterwards he has Itamar ben(son of)
Aharon verify his calculations. Moshe does this so no one will suspect
him of pocketing any of the nose rings.
And the results are in:
A whopping 29 kikar and 730 shekels of gold.
A grand total of 87,630 shekels.
An incredible 100 kikar and 1775 shekels of
silver!
A grand total of 301,775 shekels.
(A kikar is equal to 3000 shekel).
The 100 "kiks" were used to make the 100 Adanim
(sockets) - one "kik" per socket. The other 1775 shekels
were split between hooks and ornaments. These silver hooks are
attached to the pillars in the courtyard to hold up the screens
that fence in the Mishkan. The ornaments decorate the
same pillars.
Wow! 70 kikar and 2400 shekels of copper!
The copper was melted down and used to build the copper Mizbayach
(altar), and its utensils, the copper sockets of the entrance
and of the courtyard.
The donated wool is being used to make travel covers to wrap
the kaylim (utensils) of the Mishkan when it's
time to travel.
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KEHUNA
CLOTHING
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As we said, the only
thing left to do is make the clothing for the kohanim. Betzalel
and Oholiav, the Calvin Kleins of Priestly designs, personally involve
themselves in the creation of these holy outfits. The Kohain Gadol's
apron is blended with six different color threads, including one of
fine gold. The two master craftsmen make the Choshen themselves,
weaving the breastplate, cutting the stones, engraving them with the
names of the twelve shevatim, and securing them in the woven
plate.
Hey, it's a miracle! Every piece of the outfits matches Hashem's
specs to a tee. Now, that's Ruach Hakodesh!
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MOSHE
MAKES A
MISHKAN
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 When
everything is complete, all the pieces to the Mishkan puzzle
are carried to Moshe's inspection booth. Imagine the sight! Thousands
of Jews singing and dancing through the desert streets, accompanying
the most talented and creative craftsmen (and women) of Bnei
Yisroel. Some carrying their woven cloths, others transporting
heavy kaylim (utensils) like the altars, some clutching
a single hook, a group shlepping a huge tapestry of many
splendid colors. They have completed a 3-month monumental task that
will elevate the level of Bnei Yisroel to the keepers of
the presence of Hashem. Now the Shechina will
rest amongst the Bnei Yisroel.
Moshe checks out the inventory. He is so awed by the resemblance
of the objects to the fiery visions he saw on Har Sinai
that he blesses the Jews with a prayer that the Shechina
will indeed rest in the Mishkan they had built.
It is now the 25th of Kislev. Hashem commands
Moshe to wait another three months before dedicating the Mishkan.
On Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the start of the joyous month
of redemption from Mitzrayim, Moshe begins an eight day
dedication celebration.
Now, it seems that with all the commotion, one person has been
left out of the building of the Mishkan - Moshe. Moshe
feels pretty down about the situation - always the accountant,
never the account. So Hashem performs a miracle just
for him. When it comes time to set up the Mishkan, first
the Z'kaynim (elders) try to erect the beams, but the
beams just won't stand. So they figure maybe Betzalel and Oholiav
will have the honor of putting the pieces together. But the beams
collapse on them too. Finally, they turn to Moshe in despair.
Moshe asks Hashem why they can't seem to get their act
together. Surprise! It's Hashem's gift to Moshe. He alone
will have the privilege of putting the Mishkan together.
So he does... first Moshe lines up the beams of the Mishkan.
Then he covers it up with the layers and tapestries. Next, he
brings the Aron into the Kodesh Hakodoshim.
With the Aron in place Moshe takes the two Luchot
(tablets of commandments) that have been stored in his tent
and places them into the Aron. With that done, he covers
the Aron with the Kaporet, a woven cloth.
Moving on to the Kodesh, Moshe sets up the Shulchan,
and places on it the Lechem Haponim. The Menorah
goes right next to the Shulchan. The golden Mizbayach
is placed opposite the other two kaylim.
Outside, the Mizbayach HaOlah runs almost all the way
across the width of the courtyard. The Kiyor is placed
close to the Mishkan's entrance.
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SHECHINA...
COME ON
DOWN!
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Now that the Mishkan
is all set up, it's time for the Shechina to pack its bags
and move down from Shamayim to the Kodesh Hakodoshim.
Great illuminating clouds roll down from the sky, surrounding the
Mishkan on all sides and from above. Inside the walls of
the Mishkan, a thick cloud settles in. It is upon this
cloud that the Shechina rests.
All this cloud business is a pretty impressive special effects
show. Hashem doesn't really need clouds to transport
the Shechina around, though. It's just that He wants
Bnei Yisroel to see that His presence is really dwelling
in the midst of the camp of Bnei Yisroel.
The Mishkan is a sign that Hashem has forgiven
the Bnei Yisroel for the sin of the Eigel. It
is said that building the Mishkan is as great as when
Hashem created the world.
With the Mishkan in place, the book of Shmot comes
to a close.
In Shmot, we have seen the promises made to the Avot
come true. Indeed, their descendants had become strangers in a
strange land - the land of Mitzrayim. All of Yosef's
political pull could not prevent the inevitable enslavement that
kept Bnei Yisroel in check for 210 years. But even Pharoh's
devious plans to drown all the firstborn males couldn't stop the
multitude from multiplying. In the end, it was the Nile, the very
tool that Pharoh used to control the Bnei Yisroel, which
extended out like a red carpet for little Moshe, the savior of
Israel. How ironic that this future leader should grow up under
Pharoh's own roof!
It took ten plagues and a split sea to finally free the Bnei
Yisroel from Pharoh's clutches. But Hashem fulfilled
His promise to remember the children of Israel and redeem them
from slavery. Next, they march through the desert to Mount Sinai,
a 40 day trip, where Hashem, Himself, starred in the
original Biblical blockbuster, "The Ten Commandments."
Tune in next week as we begin the third book of the Torah, Vayikra.
What were those rituals and korbanot that Hashem
taught Moshe during the eight days of celebration? (The Leviyim
and Kohanim want to know!!) Don't you want to know? These
questions and more will be answered in the next exciting episode
of:
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See
the Midrash Mavin on Pekudei
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