Vayakhel-Pekudei Archives | Academy for Jewish Religion

9 03, 2026

Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei 5786

Marisa Amith2026-03-09T10:23:39-04:00

A D’var Torah for Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei

By Rabbi Dr. Matthew Goldstone

Parashat Vayakhel begins with a discussion of Shabbat that barely adds new information. Of the two verses that appear here about Shabbat, one of them (Exod. 35:2) reiterates information that we learned just a few chapters ago (i.e., Exod. 31:15) and the other seems to only provide a single example of what constitutes work – i.e., lighting fire. So why this emphasis on something that largely appears to repeat what we already know?

Starting with the verse that provides new information (Exod. 35:3), we can ask what is so special about kindling fire that the Torah singles this out as a key prohibition for Shabbat? In some ways fire is the quintessential catalyst for transformative work. Fire cooks food, tempers metal, and allows for a plethora of technologies. The modern equivalent is perhaps electricity (understood by some traditional posekim to be Read More >

Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei 5786Marisa Amith2026-03-09T10:23:39-04:00

13 03, 2023

Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei 5783

Linda Ripps2023-05-03T12:08:59-04:00

Click HERE for an audio recording of this D’var Torah

Where do we face in our holy space?
A D’var Torah for Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei
By Rabbi Rob Scheinberg

“Once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, “and what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?” — Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Alice might have approved of the Talmud, which has conversations among the sages on every page. But she might have been disappointed that there are not very many pictures. There is, however, an evocative picture inspired by a verse from this week’s Torah portion, found in printed editions of the Babylonian Talmud in Rashbam’s commentary to Tractate Bava Batra 99a, that carries some relevance for us as we Read More >

Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei 5783Linda Ripps2023-05-03T12:08:59-04:00

12 03, 2021

Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pikudei

Rabbi Ariann Weitzman2022-07-29T11:24:21-04:00

Click HERE for an audio recording of this D’var Torah

A D’var Torah for Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei
By Rabbi Ariann Weitzman (’11)

Parshiyot Vayakhel-Pekudei recount the building, but more importantly, the embellishment, of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, according to detailed instructions given in last week’s parashah. This lavish description of fabrics, stones, weaving, woodworking, and artisanship comes on the heels of the building and destruction of the Golden Calf. There are some commentators who read the Golden Calf and the Tabernacle as two potential ends to the same impulse: a desire to build a physical presence to represent the ineffable, and to create a home for worship and supplication.

While the episode of the Golden Calf represented the worst possible process for building a site for communal worship, the Tabernacle represented the best. While the Golden Calf was constructed under the leadership of Aaron, who failed to either provide authority or vision, Read More >

Parshiyot Vayakhel-PikudeiRabbi Ariann Weitzman2022-07-29T11:24:21-04:00

20 03, 2020

Parashat Vayak’hel / P’kudei 5780

Bruce Alpert2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00

A D’var Torah for Parashat Vayak’hel P’kudei
By Rabbi Bruce Alpert (’11)What does it mean to have a “willing heart?” The phrase is used three times in the opening verses of this week’s parashah, Vayak’hel/P’kudei (Exodus 35:5, 22, and 29). It likewise appears in Parashat Terumah, Exodus 25:2. In each instance the circumstances are the same; it describes the voluntary donations of precious materials (gold, silver, jewels, rare fabrics) used for the construction of the Mishkan – God’s dwelling place among the Israelite tribes. These donations are all made by those whose heart moves them to do so, and they are made in such profusion that Moses ultimately must command the Israelites to stop (Exodus 36:6).

But we only realize how evocative is the phrase “willing heart” when we consider the source of these gifts. These materials were acquired by the Israelites as they left Egypt, stripping it of its precious objects as Read More >

Parashat Vayak’hel / P’kudei 5780Bruce Alpert2022-07-29T11:24:28-04:00

8 03, 2018

March 8, 2018 – Parashat VaYakhel-Pekudei, 5778

Rabbi Rena Kieval2018-03-08T10:17:34-05:00

You Gotta Have Heart…or Do You?
A D’var Torah for VaYakhel-Pekudei
by Rabbi Rena H. Kieval, ’06

The great communal building project of the mishkan, the wilderness tabernacle, finally gets underway in this week’s double Torah portion, and the participants who craft, create and assemble it are reportedly full of heart. The Hebrew word for heart –lev – and its variants libo, libam, and so on, are repeated at least a dozen times. We read of the generous of heart – nedivei lev (Ex. 35:5, 35:22), who donate their jewels and fine fabrics for the structure; the wise of heart – hokhmei lev (Ex. 35:10, 35:25), who are skilled and able to share their artistic talents, and their building and organizational abilities. We read too of the nesi’ei lev (Ex. 35:21, 35:26) those with uplifted hearts, or perhaps, those whose hearts have lifted them up to participate. The hearts of this community are so overflowing Read More >

March 8, 2018 – Parashat VaYakhel-Pekudei, 5778Rabbi Rena Kieval2018-03-08T10:17:34-05:00

22 03, 2017

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

Cantor Sandy Horowitz2017-03-22T08:53:40-04:00

by Cantor Sandy Horowitz

Ancestors. We begin praying the Amidah by invoking them: as we acknowledge the presence of God, we do so by stating that this is also the God of our patriarchs. In recent times, more liberal streams of Judaism added the matriarchs; as a woman it is comforting to read the names of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah alongside (well actually, following) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

It can be an equally meaningful though different experience to pray from a traditional siddur in which our maternal ancestors have not been added, this too. I still recite their names after reading the printed names of the patriarchs, as a conscious acknowledgement of their textual invisibility. It is an opportunity as well to reflect on the broader notion of inclusion and exclusion.

Ancestors. Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei provides a rare opportunity to acknowledge the entire community of ancient Israelite women, our collective female ancestors who are mentioned here Read More >

Parashat Vayakhel-PekudeiCantor Sandy Horowitz2017-03-22T08:53:40-04:00

11 03, 2015

Parashat Va-Yakhel-Pekudei

ahsilver2015-03-11T21:08:34-04:00

All Together, One at a Time
by Hazzan Marcia Lane

The two final parshiyot, Va-yakhel (“he assembled”) and Pekudei (“accounting”), of the book of Exodus are frequently read together. This is due to the vagaries of the Jewish calendar and to the brevity of these two sections of the Torah, not to any particular theological statement. Nonetheless, the fact that they are so often paired can give us insights into the nature of the phenomenon of ‘peoplehood’ and individuality, and how they are perceived and fostered.

In these parshiyot, right after the section about the idolatry of the Golden Calf, Moses calls together the entire kahal, the whole congregation of Israel. Men, women, children, Israelites and hangers-on, all are present to hear a recapitulation of God’s instructions concerning the collecting of gifts (terumah) and the building of the tabernacle (mishkan) and the creation of the priestly vestments. If you’ve been following the past few weeks Read More >

Parashat Va-Yakhel-Pekudeiahsilver2015-03-11T21:08:34-04:00

All shall unite to do God's will with an open heart.

All shall unite to do God's will with an open heart.

Programs of Study

Learn more about…

Programs of Study

Learn more about…

Vayakhel-Pekudei

ABOUT

LIBRARY

JOIN US

PROGRAMS OF STUDY