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.

MAZEL TOV!

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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?