MARCH 3 • 2022 | 35
I
n Pekudei, we wrap
up the Book of Exodus
and learn that the
Israelites have fin-
ished constructing the
Tabernacle. We find a
final accounting of the
gold and silver used in
the construction and
learn that the ritual
objects and garments
that the Israelites had
been instructed to
make were complet-
ed as well. We also
find the results of the
recently completed
census (603,550 males
over age 20). Upon complet-
ing these tasks, Moses blesses
the nation.
I’ve always been intrigued
by Moses’ choice to offer
a blessing at this moment.
What cause was there for a
blessing to be offered?
The Israelites had
simply completed
projects they had been
assigned. What’s the
big deal? Is there really
a cause for celebration?
The answer (spoiler
alert) is yes. There is
indeed a cause for cele-
bration and a meaning-
ful opportunity to offer
words of blessing. Too
often in life we don’t
carve out the necessary
time to acknowledge
and reflect upon our
accomplishments. When we
complete large-scale proj-
ects — whether at home or
at work — we’re often so
focused on moving on to
whatever project is next that
we fail to pause and take
stock of who we were when
the project began and how
we’ve evolved during the
time it took us to complete
it.
Moses, in blessing the
nation, provides an oppor-
tunity for the Israelites to
pause, reflect and appreciate
the fruits of their collective
efforts, before turning their
attention to the next project.
The rabbis debate what
the words of Moses’ bless-
ing might have been as
they aren’t recorded in the
Torah. While not among the
Talmudic suggestions, the
words of blessing that I think
resonate with me most upon
completing a project are
those we actually say when
we’ve completed reading one
of the books of the Torah
(as we do this week): chaz-
ak chazak v’nitchazek — “be
strong, be strong, and may
we be strengthened.”
This Shabbat, let’s remember
that while going from project
to project and from strength
to strength that it’s important
to make the time to pause and
reflect on what we’ve accom-
plished and how we’ve changed
along the way.
Rabbi Dan Horwitz is a rabbi at Adat
Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills.
He can be reached at dhorwitz@
adatshalom.org.
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Logan Amanda Spagna, daughter of Dr.
Renee Applebaum-Spagna and Randy
Spagna, will lead the congregation in prayer
as she becomes a bat mitzvah at Temple
Israel in West Bloomfield on Friday, March 4,
2022. She will be joined in celebration by her
sisters, Cameron, Paige and Samantha. Logan is the lov-
ing grandchild of Lorraine and Howard Applebaum, and
Marion and the late Nick Spagna.
Logan is a student at West Hills Middle School in
Bloomfield Hills. Her most meaningful mitzvah project
was raising funds for the Michigan Parkinson Foundation
in honor of her bubbie, Lorraine.
Reizen 103rd
M
aurice Reizen of Novi,
former director of the
Michigan Department
of Public Health, celebrated
his 103rd birthday on Feb. 24,
2022. Wishing him a happy
birthday on this noteworthy
and momentous occasion at
a small gathering at his senior
living facility at Waltonwood at
Twelve Oaks or on Zoom were
his family, including his chil-
dren, Mark Reizen, and Nancy
and Howard Serlin; his grand-
children, Jason Reizen, Jennifer Matley, Daniel
and Miry Serlin, and David and Dana Serlin; and
his great-grandchildren, Andrew and Leia Serlin,
Lucy and Olivia Serlin, and Molly and Cameron
Matley. Balloons, a cake, shrimp cocktails and
filet mignons for all added to the festivities.
A Time To
Take Stock
SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION
Rabbi Dan
Horwitz
Parshat
Pekudei:
Exodus
38:21-40:38;
I Kings
7:51-8:21.
CONVERSATIONS
Do I make the time to
acknowledge the com-
pletion of major projects
in my life? How and
when do I carve out
space to reflect on my
personal growth? What
words of blessing or ritu-
al can I embrace to help
mark the completion
of major life projects —
both for myself and to
offer in service of others?