Torah Portion of the Week
Building Character through the Themes of the Weekly Torah Portion
וַיַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁה אֶת־כָּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה ה׳ לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָם׃
Va-yak-hel Mo-sheh et–kol–a-dat B’nei Yis-ra-el va-yo-mer a-le-hem e-leh ha-d’va-rim a-sher–tzi-vah A-do-nai la-a-sot o-tam.
And Moses assembled all the congregation of the Children of Israel, and said unto them: These are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do them.
Exodus 35:1
Vayakhel means “and he assembled.” In Vayakhel, the men and women donated an abundance of precious metals and materials used for the construction of the Tabernacle, including gold, silver, and copper, as well as dyed wool, linen, goat hair, animal skins, wood, olive oil, spices, and precious stones. They brought more than enough gifts—so many, that Moses had to ask them to stop giving.
Not only were they asked to donate materials for the construction of the Tabernacle, but they were also asked to actually build it. Once completed, the Tabernacle would be a place where the Israelites could feel God’s Presence. Yet, its construction was a very detailed and complicated task, requiring much wisdom and highly skilled craftsmen. This brought a very important question to the table: Since all of the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt and hadn’t developed the necessary skills for this task, who would be willing to step out and try?
Undoubtedly, there were those who felt they didn’t have the capability or know-how to construct the Tabernacle and all of its beautiful furnishings. They were unaware that within them was the ability to accomplish craftsmanship of such high skill. But their hearts inspired them anyway, and they stepped out with a passion to fulfill God’s will. Because they were willing, their hidden talents were revealed; God helped them to succeed. In the end, a beautiful Tabernacle, with all of its vessels and furnishings, was built. What may have seemed impossible had been accomplished.
It’s Not Impossible
God has given you skills, talents, and gifts that He wants you to use to fulfill His will and purpose. You cannot limit yourself by what you perceive to be your own natural areas of strength, talent, or ability. You may have to step out of your comfort zone and do something you normally wouldn’t do even if you don’t feel capable, talented, or adequately trained.
For instance, maybe you’re naturally a shy person, but you know someone who would benefit if you opened up and reached out to them. Or maybe you’re not very confident in your cooking skills, but you know of someone who would really appreciate a home cooked meal—even if it’s a simple one. It could be that you’re not much of a handyman, but offering help in any way you can may be just the support that someone else needs. In stepping out with a willing heart, you just might discover a skill you didn’t know you had—a treasure inside of you waiting to be found and shared with others.
Today, step out and begin a God project—a project that will project you forward towards God’s goal in your life. When you see a need, take it upon yourself to change lives. Be positive-minded and have a willing heart, despite the perceived obstacles. Believe in yourself… God does! Let your heart inspire you.
Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words
| a | [a] as in arm |
| ai | [ai] as in Thailand |
| e | [e] as in red |
| ei | [ei] as in eight |
| i | [i] as in ski |
| o | [o] as in score |
| oi | [oi] as in oil |
| u | [u] as in rule |
| ui | [ui] as in gluing |
| ch/kh | [ch] as in the Scottish loch |
| g | [g] as in good (not as in giant) |
| tz | [ts] as in hats |
| ‘ | short “eh” or “uh” sound |
The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash®
