Parashat Vayakhel & Parshat Para: A Journey of Atonement and Trust

Hello everyone. This week is Parshat Vayakhel, and it's also Parshat Para. As we near Rosh Chodesh Nissan and prepare for Pesach, we delve into the profound connections between these readings.

Vayakhel: A New Beginning as Atonement

• "Vayakhel Moshe": The term "Vayakhel" (Moshe assembled) is unique in Torah, signifying a positive, unified gathering. Our Sages explain this assembly was for a new beginning, a kapara (atonement) for the sin of the Golden Calf.

• Contrasting Gatherings: Just as "Vayakhel" described the gathering for the Mishkan's construction, "Vayakhel" also described the gathering at the Golden Calf, where the nation passively allowed the sin. Moshe now calls for a positive gathering to rectify that passivity.

• Mishkan's Purpose: Every action in building the Mishkan was designed to make amends for Chet HaEgel (Sin of the Calf), transforming past negativity into positive action.

Shabbat: Peace Amidst Urgency

• Priority of Shabbat: Even amidst the urgency to build the Mishkan, Moshe Rabbeinu emphasizes Shabbat observance, stating, "Six days you shall do work, but the seventh day will be holy."

• "Lo Teva'aru Eish": The specific prohibition against kindling fire on Shabbat is highlighted. Fire symbolizes internal strife and anger that can spread rapidly. Shabbat, in contrast, is about bringing peace into the home and avoiding "the fire of discord."

• Shabbat as Kapara: "Kol Hashomer Shabbat ke'ilu kiya Kol HaTorah Kula" – whoever observes Shabbat is as if they kept the entire Torah. Conversely, idol worship is akin to denying the entire Torah. Thus, Shabbat observance serves as a kapara for the idol worship of the Golden Calf.

Sanctity of Time and Place

• Two Types of Kedushah: The Torah teaches us about two types of sanctity:

  • Kedushat HaZman (Sanctity of Time): Holy moments like Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, and festivals, which are felt everywhere, allowing us to connect closely with Hashem regardless of location.

  • Kedushat HaMakom (Sanctity of Place): Holy places like Eretz Yisrael, Yerushalayim, and the Beit Hamikdash, where it can be easier to feel Hashem's presence.

• Shabbat as a Relationship: Chazal compare Shabbat to the relationship between husband and wife:

  • Friday night: Kiddushin (engagement/sanctification), initiating our bond with Hashem.

  • Shabbat morning: Nisuim (marriage), a time of rejoicing in the full union.

  • Shabbat afternoon (Mincha): Yichud (total unity), expressed in "Ata Echad V'Shimcha Echad" (You are One and Your Name is One), seeking total closeness.

Dedication and Transformation

• The Builders' Talent: The Ramban notes that the artisans of the Mishkan were formerly brick-and-cement laborers. Their extraordinary artistic talent came from their tremendous desire and determination to do Hashem's will.

• Repetition in Torah: The repeated details of the Mishkan's construction (mentioned five times) underscore the immense effort and dedication involved.

• Waiting for Nissan: Though completed on Kislev 25, the Mishkan was inaugurated on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. This patience rectified the impatience displayed at the Golden Calf, where the people couldn't wait half a day for Moshe.

Parshat Para: Submission and Purity

• Chok HaTorah: Parshat Para, from Sefer Bamidbar, discusses the Para Adumah (Red Heifer), a chok (decree) with no logical explanation. It teaches that accepting laws without full understanding demonstrates total submission to Hashem.

• Paradox of Purity: The Red Heifer's ashes purify the impure (those in contact with death) but render the pure Kohen who prepares them impure. This paradox ("Metaher T'mei'im U'Metameh T'horim") underscores its nature as a chok.

• Kapara for the Calf: Rashi explains that the mother cow cleans up the mess of the calf, signifying that the Red Heifer's non-logical mitzvah atones for the Golden Calf, which was made based on human logic.

• Humility: The Red Heifer ceremony involves burning cedar (tallest tree, symbolizing pride) with hyssop (lowly bush), signifying the removal of human arrogance and fostering humility.

• Transformative Power: "Motzi Tahor mi'Tameh" - Hashem alone has the power to transform the impure to pure, as seen in righteous individuals emerging from corrupt backgrounds (e.g., Avraham from Terach, Ruth from Moav). This power comes through attachment to Torah and mitzvot.

The Power of Women: Mirrors for Miracles

• The Kiyor: The washbasin (Kiyor) in the Mishkan was made from copper mirrors donated by women. Moshe Rabbeinu initially hesitated, seeing mirrors as vanity objects.

• Hashem's Value: Hashem, however, told Moshe that these mirrors were His most precious gift. In Egypt, when men were despairing and didn't want to raise families, women used their mirrors to beautify themselves and entice their husbands, fostering hope and ensuring the continuation of generations despite the bleak future. This act of faith and devotion was invaluable to Hashem.

A Story of Shabbat Observance

A woman was at a hotel on Shabbat when she received an urgent call: her young daughter had been severely injured and taken to the hospital. A Rabbi advised her to take a non-Jewish taxi. En route, the driver, a Jew who was not Shabbat observant, began to say Tehilim aloud. Realizing he was Jewish, the woman immediately exited the car at a red light, choosing to walk rather than violate Shabbat. She walked for a significant time, eventually finding a religious couple who offered her shelter for Shabbat.

At Motzei Shabbat (after Shabbat), she called the hospital and was told her daughter had miraculously woken up with no serious injuries, able to return home. The exact time of the miracle coincided with the moment she stepped out of the taxi. This story exemplifies: "More than we keep the Shabbat, the Shabbat keeps us."

Have a wonderful Shabbos!