Parshat Vayakhel Pekudei 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in the beginning of the first of this week's parshiyot, Vayakhel Moshe es Kol Adas Bnei Yisrael; Moshe gathered all the members of Clal Yisrael together. Rashi teaches that this took place the day after Yom Kippur, when he came down from Har Sinai with the second set of Luchos. It was at this juncture that Moshe Rabbeinu gave the command to Bnei Yisrael to build the Mishkan.
The timing of beginning the process of building the Mishkan Motzei Yom Kippur is very significant. The Ramah teaches in Siman 624 that one should eat and rejoice after Yom Kippur. The Mishnah Berurah explains that this is based on the Medrash in Koheles Rabbah (9,7) that after Yom Kippur a Bas Kol goes out and says (Koheles, Chapter 9, Pasuk 7), Lech Echol B'Simcha Lachmecha, U'Shesei B'Lev Tov Yanecha, Kevar Nishma'ah Tefilaschem. The Medrash states that a Bas Kol comes down from heaven and quotes the pasuk in Koheles telling everyone to go home and rejoice for Hashem has heard our Tefillos.
Why is it precisely at this moment of joy that the mitzvah of the Mishkan was given?
It is brought in the Sefarim that the ingathering of Bnei Yisrael at the beginning of our parsha, Vayakhel Moshe, was an atonement for the sin of Chet Ha'Egel. When Bnei Yisrael sinned the Torah states (Chapter 32, Pasuk 1), Vayikahel Ha'Am al Aharon; the correction for this is Vayakhel Moshe. When they sinned, they said (Chapter 32, Pasuk 4) Eileh Elohecha Yisrael; in our parsha the command for the Mishkan begins with Eileh Ha'Devarim.
When Bnei Yisrael sin, there is a great distance among them. And the great unifier of Am Yisrael is the Torah. When we follow the mitzvos of Hashem and study His Torah, there is Achdus. When Bnei Yisrael received the Torah at Har Sinai, Chazal teach that we were K'Ish Echad, B'Lev Echad; like one person with one heart. And this unity is not only a result of the Torah, but a precondition for receiving the Torah. Chazal derive this unity from a pasuk which describes the state of the nation before receiving the Torah.
When Hashem forgave Bnei Yisrael for the Chet Ha'egel and instructed Moshe Rabbeinu with making a second set of Luchos, he came down on Yom Kippur. The day of receiving the Luchos Sheniyos is described in the Gemara in Ta'anis 30B as a day of Selicha U'Mechila; we received atonement and unity together with the giving of the Torah on Yom Kippur.
The Sfas Emes teaches that the mitzvah of the Mishkan was given to Bnei Yisrael after Yom Kippur as a reward for Teshuva and to give them great joy in giving towards its building. For giving and being generous brings about joy and happiness in a person. And Bnei Yisrael responded with great generosity in giving towards the Mishkan.
The Gemara in Shabbos 130A teaches that when Bnei Yisrael receive a mitzvah with joy, it remains with them permanently. And this period after Yom Kippur remains constantly for us a time of joy, as we were given the mitzvah of Succos, the most joyous time of year. And the joy of Succos and the joy of the Mishkan are very similar. They both result from being in a unique place where through our devotion and service to Hashem we are able to feel the presence of the Shechinah.
During this challenging time we are all facing, it is incumbent upon us to strengthen our feeling of Achdus. As our forefathers established their generosity in donating materials for the Mishkan, we must be generous in spirit to each other and create unity. And the ultimate unity is created by strengthening our connection to Torah, K'Ish Echad, B'Lev Echad. And when we strengthen our connection to Hashem and His Torah, as well as to each other, we should be zocheh to hear the voice coming from heaven telling us that our prayers have been answered and we can eat and rejoice with the knowledge that Hashem hears our prayers and accepts us as complete Ba'alei Teshuvah.
Good Shabbos
Print this article