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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
You too can
dedicate a Parsha or any other section of Torah Tots in honor or in
memory of someone close to you.
For further info, click here.
PARSHA
FACTS
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NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 1
0 MITZVOT ASEH (POSITIVE COMMANDMENT)
1MITZVAH LO TAASEH (NEGATIVE COMMANDMENT - PROHIBITION)
NUMBER OF PESUKIM (SENTENCES):122
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1558
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 6181
HAFTORA: (Additional portion, from Prophets, which is read after the Parsha)
Melachim I / I Kings 7:40-50 (Ashkenazim);
Melachim I / I Kings 7:13-26 (Sepharadim add)
In non-leap years, Vayakhel and the subsequent Parsha, Pekudei, are read on the same Shabbat.
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פרשת ויקהל
THE
PARSHA |
In our last episode, Moshe dismounted the mount with two
tablets but decided to smash them in the morning (or
should I say.. in mourning), when he realized he'd been replaced
by a golden cow. Hashem wanted to destroy the entire nation
but Moshe made a deal and wiped out the idol worshippers, then shlepped
two sapphire tablets up to the summit of Har Sinai for
another 40 day faith-a-thon. He came back down on the 10th of Tishrei
with five holidays, ten commandments and thirteen attributes of
mercy.
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GOOD
NEWS!
IT'S A
MISHKAN
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As our Parsha
opens, it is the day after Yom Kippur, the 11th of Tishrei.
Things are settling down after Moshe's massacre of the golden calf
cult. As you can probably imagine, the people aren't feeling very
good about themselves right now. Although Hashem has forgiven
them, they just missed total annihilation by the skin of their teeth.
Who knows what the relationship will be like now!
Moshe gathers up the people for a big announcement. Hashem
has not only forgiven Bnei Yisroel for their terrible
sins, but has decided that He will permanently dwell among the
people. But first a special "home" for the Shechina must
be erected. This home is called the "Mishkan."
Now, we know all about the Mishkan because we planted
bugs on the summit of Har Sinai and heard all the details
that Hashem gave Moshe. But Bnei Yisroel is
hearing about this for the first time. Little do they realize
that this antidote existed before the "mad cow disease" ran rampant.
The Bnei Yisroel are up on the bleachers, waving banners
and crying out with great joy in their hearts. Now they know for
sure that Hashem will always be in their midst. They
are eager to begin the construction and are hanging on Moshe's
every word. But before Moshe will give details, he warns Bnei
Yisroel that even though building the Mishkan is
holy work, it is forbidden to do any work on the Mishkan
on Shabbat.
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THE
MISHKAN
SHABBAT
CONNECTION
The 39 Melachot
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So what does Shabbat
have to do with the Mishkan? Alot! In order to build the
Mishkan, the Bnei Yisroel have to perform 39 different
types of work. These 39 are called "Avot Melachot" (Main
Categories of Work). They are the basic categories for the kinds of
work forbidden on Shabbat. For a list of the 39 Melachot,
click here.
If a Jew does one of these melachot on Shabbat
and has been warned by two witnesses beforehand, the Bait
Din sentences him to death by stoning. A Jew who accidentally
transgresses one of these melachot on Shabbat
must bring a Korban Chatat (sin offering).
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BRING US
YOUR WIRE,
YOUR BOARD,
YOUR ALTAR
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Moshe makes an appeal
for specific materials needed to build the Mishkan:
- gold
- silver
- copper
- blue, purple and crimson dyed wool
- fine linen
- goat's wool
- red ram's skins
- tachash skins
- shittim wood
- olive oil
- fragrances, and
- precious stones
The deal is that no one has to give, and no one will say how much
to give. It's up to the individual to do what he likes for the project.
As soon as there is enough material to build the Mishkan,
the construction will begin. There's only one catch: only true Bnei
Yisroel can take part in the Mishkan's construction.
Since the Eirev rav caused the golden calf calamity, they
are barred from contributing and constructing any aspect of the
Mishkan. As a matter of fact, the Eirev rav are
barred from this little gathering of Bnei Yisroel.
Moshe pitches a storage tent and heads home for a bite of mann.
Imagine his delight when he is greeted upon return with thousands
of Jews clutching their "material" wealth. The people were so
elated that they made a bee-line to their tents and gathered up
tons and tons of materials needed to construct the Mishkan.
Moshe appoints a team of weighers to keep track of how much material
has been collected.
The next morning, Moshe sends a crew out to the sh'vatim
(tribes) with bullhorns to announce that more than enough material
has been donated to the Mishkan material fund. You can
imagine the shouts of joy and cheers around the camp. The people
know they have responded in record time, proving that they are
truly devoted to Hashem. Hashem, too, encourages
them with absolute forgiveness for the sin of the Eigel hazahav.
Only twelve people in Bnei Yisroel don't jump for joy,
the twelve Nesiyim (tribal leaders) of Bnei Yisroel.
They figured "let's see what Bnei Yisroel donates to
the Mishkan, then we will donate the rest." They were
not expecting such a materialistic turnout, however, and blew
their chance to show their eagerness to contribute. Lucky for
them, there are a few items still open on the checklist. They
are the precious gems that are placed in the shoulder straps of
the Kohain Gadol's Aifod and the 12 gems that are placed
on the Choshen (Breastplate). Also, spices and olive
oil are still needed. So the Nesiyim donate those items.
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THE BOY
AT THE
FRONT
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As per Hashem's
command, Betzalel is put in charge of "Project Mishkan."
Betzalel recruits Oholiav as his assistant. Any man or woman with
a skill needed for the construction is invited to participate. That
includes sawing boards, weaving, making hooks, sewing, stitching,
melding and any of 39 Melachot mentioned before. Betzalel,
himself, designs and constructs the Aron (Ark), the holiest
of all objects. The Aron is never destroyed, but is hidden
by King Yoshiyahu 50 years before the destruction of the First Bait
Hamikdash to be returned to us when the Third Bait Hamikdash
is built. (May it be speedily in our days).
Moshe makes his way through the camp, making sure that the actual
handiwork matches the fiery visions he beheld on Har
Sinai. Miraculously, even the creative interpretations of the
craftsmen match exactly to a tee with Hashem's presentation.
It takes 3 months to complete the Mishkan.
Tune in next week when Moshe does the accounting.
It's the big Sefer Shmot finale in the next exciting
episode of:
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See
the Midrash Mavin on Vayakel
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