Vayakhel Pekudei 2021

1In Vayakhel and in Pikudei we read of how the people did as was commanded earlier in Trumah and Tetzaveh. It raises the following difficulty; The entire Yakahel-Pekudei could have been summarized in one sentence. “And Moshe and the children did as they were instructed, the people brought forth the gifts, Moshe built the Mishkan with Betzalel’s help.” Why did the torah which is normally so parsimonious with words become so verbose describing each and every detail again? G-d had already given the commandments in great detail on Sinai. The Torah should have said; “And then they did it!!”

2Parshas Vayakel may be understood as a response to issues raised in Ki Tisa;

3Hashem told Moshe after the sin of the golden calf “Go to the land, I’m sending my messenger “Malachee”. I will not go with you. You are a stiffed neck nation and I might destroy you”. After having sinned, there wasn’t going to be a Mishkan. Moshe’s tent was going to be the “Ohel Moed”, a term normally reserved to Mishkan. The Mishkan was a big question mark following the sin of the golden calf. G-d had no interest in “resting in Israel” And G-d tells Moshe “tell the people “I am not going along with you a people of such stiff necks.” [stiff neck – unbending, unwilling to listen or to hear another voice] Moshe prayed and begged. God eventually relented to Moshes requests. God did finally accede; “Ok this that you ask I will do.” Seemingly G-d has agreed to go along with the people. Despite this promise later Moshe again requests: “Yelech Na Adonai bekerbanu key am kshei oref hu” Let my Master go in our midst because it is a stiff-necked nation”. G-d responded with a covenant. “Behold, here is a covenant such as never been created in all the land and in all the nations, the nation will see that which I do with you.” The exchange here is most puzzling. Why does Moshe ask again? How is a stiff-necked nation a reason for G-d going “In our midst”? What was G-d’s response??

4The question of G-d’s presence was actually unresolved. Moshe either didn’t know or didn’t accept or was worried that the stiff-necked people would sin again. Moshe stated “I understand they are a stiffed neck people. But a stiff necked stubborn independent people is exactly worthy of Your presence. And I’m going to show you just that.” Rashi in describing the term “Vayakhel” wrote: “The word is passive, Moshe persuaded the people to come forth, but ultimately it was from their own will.” Vayakhel does not mean Moshe forced the people rather he persuaded them to come forth. They did come forth and in spades. Moshe wanted to demonstrate that these people his people were worthy. How did he do it? He did it with “Vayakhel.” Moshe did not tell the people that G-d would go along with the people. He persuaded them, he suggested that there is a chance, a possibility, that they will merit God’s presence, His Shechinah. All through the long winter months from Yom Kippur through the month of Nisan the people toiled, and contributed for the Mishkan. They did all this despite not knowing whether or not God would ultimately agree to come along! They are a stubborn people, willing to go the distance even in uncertainty. In the end the people became deserving of G-d’s presence Then and only then was Moshe’s tent no longer the Ohel Moed”. It is in the detail description of all the work that they did each item that Hashem is convinced that this is a worthy people.

5Dedicated in memory of Joel Shulman A’H