Worship

TORAH TALK

Select Thoughts from Our Clergy

Pekudei
Rabbi Allison Vann, 3/11/2022 

In this week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, the construction of the mishkan, the Tabernacle, is completed. The mishkan has been, literally a labor of love. Sforno, the 16^th century Italian commentator teaches that whether through donating materials or actual construction, every Israelite had a part in creating the traveling Sanctuary. The mishkan was completed a year following the exodus from Egypt, leaving 39 more years in the desert (Exodus 40:17). The Israelites did not wake up the morning after it was finished with nothing left to do. Far from it! In many ways, that was just the beginning. Once constructed, they needed to learn how to continue to live up to the holiness that God expected. Carol Towarnicky teaches, “The mishkan in many ways exemplifies the relationship between holiness and community. The root of the Hebrew word, sh (שׁ)-ch(כּ)-n(נ), is related to the root of the words Shechinah — God’s presence on earth — and shachen — neighbor.” The Israelites learned that when they work together with their neighbors, they brought God’s presence into their midst. How timely is this Torah portion! Our global community is hurting. To be a holy community, we must remember that we are all neighbors. Like the Israelites, we have many ways we can build a better community.  We can build with our hands; we can contribute our time or donations. May the Shechinah come to dwell among all of us.