Parashat Vayikra 5783
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Keeping focus on sacred connections
A D’var Torah for Parashat Vayikra
by Rabbi Steven Altarescu (’14)
The Book of Vayikra begins where Exodus leaves off. The Israelites have finished building the Mishkan and God has shown approval through the appearance of a cloud of God’s Presence. Exodus thus ends triumphantly with a description of the work being finished;
“Now the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of YHVH filled the Mishkan” (Exodus 40:34)
We are then told that Moses:
“was not able to come into the Tent of Meeting for the cloud was dwelling on it and the Presence of YHVH filled the Mishkan.” (Exodus 40:35)
Vayikra begins with God calling out to Moses:
“YHVH called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting…” (Leviticus 1:1)
The building of the Mishkan and the blessing of God’s presence add a sense of completion to Read More >