The two parshiot this week are contrasts in emphasis – do we work on the whole, or strengthen the component parts? One wonders which of the two is more significant – a strong individual input, or a major collective effort? The answer encompasses both: personal integrity coupled with a sense of community mission.
Moses’ name doesn’t appear in this week’s Parsha even though he is its central figure. A name doesn’t express the essence of a person. It only identifies him for third parties. So, when G-d refers to Moses in the second person, ‘you’, that is even a more specific reference to Moses than his name.
When Moshe Rabbeinu first approached his enslaved brothers and sisters, they ignored him. Rashi notes their breathing was stressfully shallow and short. A person of faith sidesteps anxiety and stress to move forward in life, as did the Jewish people who regained belief after the ten plagues.
This week’s Parsha is often read together with the previous one, Vayakhel, except during a leap year, like this year. While Vayakhel emphasizes the collective value of pulling together, Pekudei emphasizes the individual worth of each single person. Both quantity and quality have their day. Often this week’s Parsha, Pekudei, is read together with the…
One can be generous to a fault. We were so very generous contributing to the golden calf! So, G-d gave us the opportunity to make amends by contributing to the construction of the Mishkan. A lesson for all of us – don’t make the mistake of supporting golden calves. The donations to the construction of…
Moses rejected the gift of mirrors that the womenfolk offered for the construction of the Mishkan. He was concerned that mirrors were tainted with vanity, even though the Jewish women only used them for higher purpose. G-d advised Moses to accept them, because elevating the lowest to the highest is the whole purpose of Mitzvot.
Pride is the reward of effort. The magnitude of the outcome matters less than the personal expenditure of effort and involvement. The Jewish people’s effort and contribution to the construction of the Tabernacle provided them with immense pride in their successful outcome.Effort plus success produces pride. A child’s drawing may seem modest compared to grander…
Mishpatim is about civil and criminal law. Most societies promulgate laws for governing law and order. These are abided by through the concept of a social contract. Torah law is beyond contract, and therefore cannot be rationalised out of existence. It is in sync with the template of creation. Notes: • Our Parsha, Mishpatim, discusses…
Yitro was an idol worshipper par excellence but nevertheless became Moses’ father-in-law and one of the most famous converts to Judaism. Far from being mentally deficient, idol worshippers often were highly evolved human beings who had simply chosen the wrong boat for life’s journey. A ba’al teshuva, is held in high esteem, having passed an…
This Parsha is also called Shabbat Shira – the Sabbath of Song, as the Jewish people sing as they finally experience emancipation. While words reveal thoughts, song expresses deep felt feelings and even reveal the soul. Hassidim use Niggun for deep expression. So you can too by singing daily. Our Parsha, Beshallach is also called…
The opening word, Bo, instructs Moses to ‘come’ to Pharaoh, come right into the lion’s den, not just ‘go’ up to him casually. This is a lesson in dealing with personal faults. Don’t approach them academically from a spiritual distance. Come up to them ‘real close’ to deal with them. The opening word of our…
When Moshe Rabbeinu first approached his enslaved brothers and sisters, they ignored him. Rashi notes their breathing was stressfully shallow and short. A person of faith sidesteps anxiety and stress to move forward in life, as did the Jewish people who regained belief after the ten plagues. In the opening passage of this week’s Parsha…
The word ‘shemot’ means ‘names’. A name can never describe the essence of the person, and yet it identifies him or her. Likewise, G-d has many names which help us identify G-d’s nature and various attributes but can’t reflect the essence of G-dliness. Just as we strive to know a person beyond the name, so…
Why was the lighting of the Candelabra in the Mishkan so carefully worded, even seeking surety that the flame stays lit? Our soul is like G-d’s candle and each one of us has the ability to ignite the other’s soul with joy and happiness. This should not be done half-heartedly or just out of a…
