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Parashat Vayakhel/Pekudei After the sin of the Golden Calf, the Children of Israel are seeking a way to return to God, and the Mishkan (Tabernacle) provides this opportunity. Moses gathers the community and tells them what the Lord has commanded, including that they should not light a fire on Shabbat. Moses then requests that the people bring gifts to the Lord, such as precious metals, fine yarns and linens, wood, oil and spices for the building of the Tabernacle, and that all who are skilled participate in the creation of this holy structure. As God requested, Bezalel and Oholiab are singled out to lead the construction, and within a few days, had amassed so many gifts from the people that they had more than they needed. Exodus 36:8 - 38:20, the remainder of Vayakhel, explains in vivid detail the process by which all of the elements of the Mishkan is actually constructed. Bezalel is given credit for all of the work, and interestingly, we hear nothing more of Oholiab, who was one of two people singled out by God for this project, and at the start of Exodus 37, though, the language changes from "they" to "he" (Bezalel). It is also interesting to note that in modern day Israel, the major art school bears the name of the man who was first associated with artistic creativity: Bezalel. The portion, Parashat Pekudei, marks the end of the book of Exodus. The Children of Israel have left Egypt, now have both a set of guidelines from God and a holy dwelling, the Mishkan. The portion details the accounting of the Mishkan – how much gold and silver was used (29 talents and 730 shekels by sanctuary weight of gold, 100 talents and 1775 shekels of silver), which colors of yarn were used to design the ephod (gold, blue, purple and crimson), how many people were in the community (603,550 men above age 20), and the like. When all of the elements forming the Tabernacle were completed, Moses blessed the people. And then the Lord spoke to Moses, and instructed him how to set up the Tabernacle, "Screen off the ark with the curtain … place the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the Tabernacle …and put in place the screen for the gate of the enclosure… You shall take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all that is in it to consecrate it and all its furnishings, so that it shall be holy," (Exodus 40:3-9). On the first month of the second year on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was set up, the Pact was placed within the ark, the curtain was raised, the lamps lit, the incense burned, and the water for washing poured. When Moses finished the work, "the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle… When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their various journeys; but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out … for over the Tabernacle a cloud of the Lord rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys," (Exodus 40:34-38). Thus closes the Book of Exodus. |