פרשת ויקרא / ד’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב
The English translation of the offerings is wrong. These were not sacrifices given to God. God does not need our offerings. We need the offerings for our sakes.
Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal
-
Be A Part of the Community
פרשת פקודי / כ”ט באדר א’ תשפ”ב
Every Jew was required to donate to the building and upkeep of the Tabernacle, no matter what their economic status. This is to teach us that we are all a part of the community, and we are all obligated to help.
-
Clothes Make the Man
פרשת פקודי / כ”ח באדר א’ תשפ”ב
The Torah emphasizes the clothing that the High Priest wears while working in the Tabernacle. The reason is not that God needs us to be dressed this way but that the High Priest is a leader. He is God’s representative to the world.
-
Be Accountable
פרשת פקוקי / כ”ז באדר א’ תשפ”ב
The Torah records that Moses made a full accounting of all the monies received and spent in building the Tabernacle. This is amazing! Shouldn’t Moses be above suspicion with regard to public monies? This is to teach our leaders that it is a good policy to prove that they did not dip into the public monies.
-
Make Yourself Count
פרשת ויקהל / כ”ד באדר א’ תשפ”ב
Every Jew had to donate a half shekel for the upkeep of the Temple. This is to teach us that every person has value. The concept of the upkeep of the Temple also included making sure the roads to Jerusalem were in good shape for those who had business in the Temple.
-
The True Importance of the Tabernacle
פרשת ויקהל / כ”ג באדר א’ תשפ”ב
The true importance of the Temple was not the structure in of itself. It was that it was built for a moral & ethical God who demanded of his worshipers that they be moral and ethical.
-
Knowledge Without Wisdom Leads to Disaster
פרשת ויקהל / כ”ב באדר א’ תשפ”ב
When choosing Bezalel as the craftsman for the articles in the Tabernacle the Torah extols his Wisdom, Heavenly Spirit and Knowledge. In that order. This is to teach us that knowledge in of itself is not enough. We need wisdom to know how to use the knowledge.
-
Dress to Impress
פרשת ויקהל / כ”א באדר א’ תשפ”ב
The Torah again stresses how the Cohenim (Priests) should be attired while working in the Tabernacle. Why does it stress the physical? This is to teach us that when we should dress appropriately when we are in a holy place. And that when we visit such a place it should be an experience for us.
-
Leading by Example
פרשת ויקהל / כ’ באדר א’ תשפ”ב
The leaders of the tribes were punished because they hesitated to donate to the Tabernacle. They felt that they would wait and see what would be needed after the people donated. The people donated so much that their donations were not needed. The Torah points out that a leader has to lead by example.
-
Putting Shabbat Before the Tabernacle
פרשת ויקהל / י”ט באדר א’ תשפ”ב
Before the Torah gives the instructions how to actually build the Tabernacle it makes mention of Shabbat. This is to teach us that observance of Shabbat overrides the building of the Tabernacle.