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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
פרשת כי תישה / י”ז באדר א’ תשפ”ב
Moses is considered to be the humblest man who ever lived. While he knew that he was a leader, he did not realize how his leadership influenced others. He was unaware his face glowed. How could someone so important no know this?
פרשת כי תישה / ט”ז באדר א’ תשפ”ב
The entire nation was punished for the sin of the Golden Calf. This is astounding when we realize that it was only a minority that committed the sin. Why was the whole nation punished? To teach us that silence in the face of evil is complicity in in evil.