Weekly Torah Portion

In honor of the memory of Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz Z"L.

Parashat writer by the Rabbi.

1. MOSHE GATHERED THE ISRAELITES, SAYING TO THEM SIX DAYS SHALL WORK BE  DONE BUT THE SEVENTH DAY SHALL BE FOR YOU THE HOLY SABBATH (35:1-3)

Our Sages comment that following the bitter episode of the Golden Calf, there was dissension  among the tribes. Moses called all the people together to unite them. Moshe then outlines the work, listing all the work that was done building the Holy Sanctuary. But, first he reminds them that the Seventh Day is ”Shabbat Shabbaton”, which may be translated as “Sabbath of Holiness.” And, he stresses that all work, even for building of the Sanctuary, had to be halted on the Sabbath. According to that Midrash, unity was restored because of the  Sabbath.

2. THE PARASHA REPEATS ALL THE ITEMS, INCLUDING THE PRIESTLY VESTMENTS, WHICH WERE CREATED FOR THE SANCTUARY.

Scholars ask: All the items for the Sanctuary were described in previous portions (Truma, Tetzaveh). Was the repetition necessary? 

They explain: The parshiyot dealing with the plans to build the Sanctuary are all in the future tense. Moses instructs B’nai Yisrael what should be done for the Sanctuary in the desert. The lists of the same items in this Parsha are in the past tense.  

The lesson is obvious: Plans and promises and fine but without implementation, they are useless. So, in this Parsha Moses is acknowledging the donation that were received and  work that was done by the people. The same lesson is taught in Pirke Avot, Ethics of the Fathers: Emor me’at ve’aseh harbeh. Speak little and do much.