Parshas Pekudei-Shekalim 5765

As the Book of Exodus comes to a close, the Torah completes the discussion of the erection of the Tabernacle. After all the materials were collected, Moshe made an exact accounting of what was collected, and how each donation was used in the construction, in order to avoid suspicion. A person must behave in a way that is beyond reproach, regardless of one's integrity.

After each vessel of the Tabernacle was made, the Torah informs us that it was made exactly in accordance with G-d's instructions to Moshe. This is repeated eighteen times throughout the portion. The reason this point is reiterated so many times in the Torah is to emphasize the importance of every detail. Every vessel, and every piece in the Tabernacle, had some kind of meaning attached to it. If even one detail would have been missing, the Tabernacle could not achieve what it was meant to accomplish. It is therefore emphasized that every task was fulfilled in exact accordance with G-d's command to Moshe.

Another interpretation is that the Tabernacle was meant to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf, where the people had jumped to their own conclusions. They had ignored Moshe's words to them about his return from atop the mountain, when they should have trusted him. The atonement for this sin required the people to follow every detail of G-d's command to Moshe, without omitting one thing. That is why the Torah repeats the refrain that they followed Moshe 's every order regarding each item of the Tabernacle.

After the Tabernacle was finally completed, Moshe blessed the nation for all their efforts. He offered a prayer that G-d grant success to their efforts and allow His presence to dwell on the nation's handiwork.

The special Haftara of Shekalim this week serves as a reminder of the half shekel that was collected each year in the times of the Temple at the beginning of the month of Adar. This tax was used to repair the roads after the winter months, in preparation for the pilgrimage to Jerusalem in honor of Pesach.

These are the accountings for the Tabernacle... (Exod. 38:21)

Someone asked Rav Shmuel Mohliver why Jews don't play the organ in their synagogues. He responded with a parable. A fire once destroyed a wealthy man's fortune and his family began to wail incessantly. A passerby commented to the family how beautiful their voices sounded, and if they would only blend together a little more harmoniously they would sound even better. The family berated the man for his foolishness. Similarly, the Rav concluded, we no longer have our Temple as the optimal means of worship. We gather instead in our synagogues to beseech G-d's mercy. How foolish it would be to incorporate musical accompaniment with our cries and entreaties.

Did You Know...

The Purim feast must be eaten during the day and not on Purim eve, though it is proper to eat a nice meal Purim eve too, preferably with candlelight, in honor of the holiday. Some people actually serve a dairy meal on Purim eve, to avoid confusion with the Purim feast, which should be a meat meal. Generally the Purim feast is eaten Purim afternoon, the majority before sunset. When Purim falls on Friday, however, the meal may not be eaten in the afternoon, so as not to take away one's appetite for the Shabbos meal. It is thus eaten sometime before noon.