When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This Shabbat, Shabbat Parah (שבת פרה), the Shabbat of the Red Heifer (שבת פרה), takes place on the Shabbat prior to Shabbat HaChodesh.
This week we read from Parashat Vayakhel (וַיַּקְהֵל), the 22nd weekly Torah portion in the annual cycle of Torah readings. According to Wikipedia, Vayakhel (וַיַּקְהֵל), Exodus 35:1 through 38:20, contains 6,181 Hebrew letters, 1,558 words, 122 verses and makes up 211 lines of the Torah scroll.
Vayakhel (translated as “He Assembled”) opens as G-d commands the Israelites to observe the Sabbath. Moses asks for material donations for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the people donate. A group of artisans designated by G-d begin to build the Mishkan and its vessels.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on this week’s Torah reading, Vayakhel for Shabbat, March 22, 2025 aka 22 Adar 5785:
“The word “Vayahkel” means assembled. According to our sages, this event occurred on Yom Kippur, when Moses reascended Mount Sinai to seek forgiveness for the sin of the golden calf and receive the second set of stone tablets. This Torah portion provides hope to all who say, I have sinned greatly but can never attain forgiveness. Moses says to the people, “assemble all your resources and your skills and use them to build all of the articles of the Tabernacle and the holy garments for the Kohanim. Thus, the Israelites, all men and women, whose heart moved them….brought it as a free will offering to the L-rd.” The following chapters then describe all the intricate work which was coordinated and designed according to the specifications given to Moses on the mountain.
Also, this Shabbat we read from the second Torah about the atonement and purification from the ashes of the red heifer. When someone came into contact with a dead body, they became
ritually unclean and thus needed purification in order to be included in any ritual events. This was achieved by being anointed with the ashes of the red heifer- red being the color that represented sin. Ironically, the person who sprinkled the ashes became unclean until evening.
The message of the conjunction of the Torah Portion and the Special Reading is clear. It is possible to return to a state of holiness from a state of ritual uncleanliness if one has a strong desire to return to the mainstream of life and be included into the congregation. By performing willing service and donating personal items of value or special skills, one can attain atonement through a willing heart. Our willingness to assemble and serve is an important part of the cohesiveness of any congregation. Our welcoming and inclusiveness, even to those who sinned, mark us as a community that opens its hand to those who desire a closer spiritual connection to G-d and the community. May our hands and hearts always be willing to accept those who need our kindness.
Discussion Questions:
- Why are the instructions for design and construction of the holy articles repeated with such detail?
- Why did the generosity of the people abound after the assurance of forgiveness?
- Why was it important that men and women work together in construction and design?
- Why did G-d choose lead designers from the tribes of Judah and Dan ?“
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his smicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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