Torah Tidbits

Breathing New Life into Our Future  

Shabbat Parashat Pekudei

March 12, 2016 – 2 Adar II 5776   

Dear Friends,headshot white 2015cropped

Our parsha reminds us that the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the desert led to a sense of God’s immanent presence among our people.

Rabbi Elana Zaiman (“The Birthing of the Mishkan (Tabernacle)” in The Women’s Torah Commentary, p. 179) writes:

“Pekudei is the last of five parshiyot that discuss in great detail the building of the mishkan, the Tabernacle.  I see the construction of the mishkan not just as a building project, but as a birthing process.  As a building project, it comes to an end.  As a birthing process, it continues throughout the generations.”

I share with you this very insightful comment just as we conclude our yearly reading of the Book of Exodus and we are left to ponder…What wisdom have we gained from the reading of the Book of Exodus?  How does the message of the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the desert enrich on our lives today?

Are we doing all that we can do to invite a sense of holiness to dwell within us, individually, and communally?  How can each of us contribute to the process of breathing new life into our future?

Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Gilah Dror