spiritualit r >> Torah portion The Sanctity Of Shabbat Parshot Vayachel-Pekudei: Exodus 35:1-38:20, 38:21-40:38; 1 Kings 7:40-7:50; 7:51-8:21. T he Torah portions of Vayachel- Pekudei deal for the most part with Moses instructing the Jews about the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Interestingly, the Torah portion prefaces this with three verses about the importance of observ- ing and guarding the sanctity of the Sabbath. The Talmud teaches that the unit dealing with Shabbat directly precedes the instructions con- cerning the Mishkan to teach us that Shabbat preempts the building of the Mishkan; the 39 creative acts utilized in constructing the Mishkan are those activities that are pro- scribed on Shabbat. Although God is extant everywhere, there are certain times and places where He can be more readily sensed. When the Mishkan stood, it was there that it was easier to access Him. Subsequently, it was the Holy Temple and Jerusalem where God was (and remains) more accessible. Now, we have the synagogue, known as the Mikdash Me'at, the miniature Temple. But in all times there was the Jewish home, which was meant to mirror the Mishkan/Temple and be a sanctuary for God. Shabbat is in time what the Mishkan and Jerusalem are in space. More than just 25 hours of physical rest, Shabbat is the most conducive time to elicit the sublime energy within our souls. How? Our sages find it remarkable that the account of the Creation takes up two chapters in the Torah portion of Bereshit, while the construction of the Mishkan is covered in 16 chapters, spanning five Torah portions — beginning with Terumah and ending with Pekudei. It seems out of character for the Torah, which is generally very sparing of words, to devote so much time dealing with all the specifications and minutiae of the Mishkan and its vessels. When it comes to building a home, "God is in the details." Sloppily installed plumbing will leak, a poorly laid founda- tion will crack, a shoddy paint job will not hold up and slapdash electrical work can send your entire house up in flames. This is equally true when creating a home for God. It is possible, unfortunately, to observe mitzvot without paying much attention to detail — and without much kavana (spiritual surrender to God). In these five portions, Torah teaches that the only way to generate a true Godly feeling and literally to create an abode for Him is by pay- ing attention to detail and maintaining proper kavana — the two essential com- ponents in putting up the Mishkan. It's not easy to always do mitzvot in this optimum way, but Shabbat is the oasis in time that affords us the opportunity to unite more significantly and more profoundly with family, community and — most impor- tantly — with the Almighty. Let us all make a commitment this very Shabbat to take advantage of the wondrous gift that God has bequeathed to us. There is now a veritable explo- sion of Judaic knowledge — books, audio, video, online — that enables us to become more informed and more knowledgeable about the practical and mystical aspects of Shabbat. We even have the technology to download during the week the traditional Shabbat melo- dies that add to the beauty of this special day! Let me end off with the classic Yiddish greeting: A Gutten Shabbos! May you have a good Shabbat, a meaningful Shabbat, a Shabbat of peace and holiness and connection, a Shabbat that brings God into your home and into your life. ❑ Elimelech Silberberg is rabbi of Sara & Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield. hat YOU Can Do to Stop Climate Change from MI-COEJL Michigan Coalition on the Environment & Jewish Life These are the generations of the heaven and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. 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