Parashat: Vayakhel-Pekudei

Parashat: Vayakhel-Pekudei
Torah Reading: Exodus 35:1-40:38

Amid all the minutiae of Vayakhel-Pekudei, it could be easy to lose sight of one of the most inspiring elements of this section of Torah: the holiness of the Tabernacle and Tent of Meeting stems from their construction as an inclusive, collective project that welcomed and made use of the gifts of heart, spirit, talent and substance from the whole community. Moses convenes the people, repeats the command from God to bring the materials and carry out this work, and they spring into action. As Exodus 35:21 tells us:

“And everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit was moved came, bringing to the Eternal an offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service and for the sacral vestments.”

True holiness in our sacred spaces depends on the presence of the whole House of Israel. May all of our prayers ascend as offerings of the heart.

—Rabbi Craig Axler