Mar 14, 20232 min read

Parshas Vayakhel-Pikudei

Zechus Refuah Sheleima: Tzvi ben Devorah

Le'iluy Nishmas: Gittel a"h bas Shraga Meir Hakohen

Le'iluy Nishmas Tziporah Chana a"h bas Yaakov Avraham Eliyahu

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Another great Parsha with many ideas for your Parsha Party. REMINDER - THIS IS A SPRINGBOARD OF IDEAS. YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE IDEA OR A FEW. AND HAVE THE KIDS GUESS THE CONNECTIONS.

Parsha Overview (Feel free to skip straight to the Party below - simply click the arrow next to this text and the overview will disappear.)

This week 2 Parshios are together – Vayakhel and Pikudei

Vayakhel

Moshe gathers the people together and again reinforces the importance of keeping Shabbos. Work for 6 days but on Shabbos it is holy and you can’t work. The work of the Mishkan must stop as well for Shabbos. (Rashi) He specifies not to burn a fire on Shabbos.

He then tells the people to donate generously to the Mishkan to make all that Hashem commanded. Gold, silver, copper, materials of blue, purple, red, linen, goat hair, red ram skins, Tachash skins, wood, oil, spices and jewels.

All Chachmei lev – wise hearted people – should come and help make all the parts of the Mishkan commanded by Hashem.

The men came following the women (who came first!) and donated bracelets, earrings, rings, buckles, and all sorts of gold objects. And everyone brought what they could give. The women spun the colorful threads and brought them.

The Nesiim – leaders of each shevet- brought the Avnei Shoham for the Ephod and Choshen. Rashi says they waited to see what was left but the people donated such an abundance that there was barely anything left for them. All that was left was these stones. They also brought spices and oil.

Moshe told the people that Hashem chose Betzalel and Ahaliav to be in charge together with all the Chachmei Lev. Together they made all the parts of the Mishkan and Keilim which were already detailed in previous Parshios as well. The coverings, the wall panels, the sockets, the Paroches, the screens, the Aron, the Keruvim, the Shulchan, the Menorah with 7 branches and flowers and almond shaped designs all made from one piece of gold, the Mizbayach Hazahav, the Ketores, the oil, the Mizbayach HaOlah, and the Kiyyur made out of the mirrors from the Jewish women in Mitzrayim. The pillars, and the hangings of the courtyard, and all the components that were commanded of the Mishkan.

Betzalel told Moshe that the people were bringing too much! Moshe told them that no more gifts were needed.

Pekudei

In this Parsha, all the weights and donations of the Mishkan were counted under the direction of Issamar the son of Aharon.

Betzalel ben Chur from Shevet Yehuda, and Ahaliav ben Achisamach from Shevet Dan, and all of their assistants, made everything Hashem commanded.

The counted items and materials are specified as to what they are used for. The colorful materials are used to make the coverings of the Keilim. They also make the Bigdei Kehuna – the clothing for the Kohanim as directed in Parshas Tetzaveh. The Ephod, the Choshen, with stones lined up representing the 12 Shevatim and with their names on them, The Meil with pomegranates of blue purple and red twisted material and bells, and the kesones, and the Mitznefes, and the Avnet, and the Tzitz with the name Kodesh LaHashem engraved on it.

They brought it all to Moshe and he saw it was how Hashem commended and he blessed them.

Hashem tells Moshe that on the first day of the first month (Rosh Chodesh Nissan) he should set up the Mishkan for the first time. All the Keilim should be put into their places and anointed with the special oil and Aharon his sons should be washed and clothed in their holy clothing and anointed with oil.

Moshe does this and when it is complete a cloud comes down and overtakes the Mishkan as Hashem fills it with His shechina and Moshe is unable to enter.

While the cloud remained on the Mishkan, they would stay put where they were. But if the cloud rose up, they knew it was time to travel. During the day it was a cloud and at night it was filled with fire.

(Adapted partially from Chabad.org, and The Pesukim and Rashi)

And now for the fun part

PARSHA PARTY

SNACKS LISTED FIRST SO YOU CAN TRY AND GUESS TOO!

This week’s Parsha Party is brought to you by Shalom Wahl, who just completed learning Vayakhel and Pikudei in school. A special shout out to Rabbi Singer’s Fourth Grade class at Tashbar of Lakewood. Mazel tov on completing Sefer Shemos!