Parashat Vayakhel

By Rabbi Shemuel Akhamzadeh

And Moshe gathered the community…  וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶֽת־כָּל־עֲדַ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל

Rashi notes that this gathering happened the day after Yom Kippur. In Parashat Yitro, Rashi comments that on the day after Yom Kippur, Moshe sat to judge the community. Kli Yakar explains that the purpose of this gathering was for Moshe to inform the community of the Mitzvah of Mishkan and the need for donations for the vessels of the Mishkan. However, as Moshe realized the purpose of the Mishkan was to reconnect us with Hashem, he was concerned that people might donate items with disputable ownership. Consequently, the Mishkan would not serve its ultimate purpose. Moshe set up the courts right before acquiring contributions to clear any concerns and to make sure that all items used in the Mishkan were free from any conflict. Although in our time we do not have the physical Mishkan, we know the purpose of building the Mishkan is to bring the Shechina amongst us.

וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם׃ )
And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. Exodus 25:8 ) So too we can accomplish this purpose by making sure to clear our souls from defects ( sins ). May we merit to see the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash in our days.

Shabbat Shalom