Pekudei

by Rabbi Yaakov Menken

"In accordance with all that G-d commanded Moshe, the children of Israel did all the work; and Moshe saw all the labor, and behold, they had done it as G-d commanded. And Moshe blessed them." [39:42-43]

In this parsha, we see extraordinary attention to detail. Each activity is described, with precise details of how items in the Tabernacle, the Mishkan, were built, and exactly where they were placed.

Each person had a precise job to perform. Some were doing this, some that, but each person had to do the job to his or her maximum potential. Every part was crucial - what would a Mishkan be without a Menorah? It would remain lacking, incomplete! There were many different things to be done, so completion of this great structure required everyone's dedicated participation. But when everyone worked together, they built a Mishkan.

And so it is with every project to further Judaism and Jewish life; great things are achieved when everyone works together, and everyone does their part.

Text Copyright © 1997 Rabbi Yaakov Menken and Project Genesis, Inc.
The author is the Director of Project Genesis.