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Drash
for Shabbat Vayakheil Vayakhel echoes the content of previous weeks' portions: the creation of a sacred space to welcome the presence of God. To craft this holy space God has commanded Moses to request gifts from the Israelite community. Included in these offerings are precious metals, oil, incense, and weavings from skilled women "spun with their own hands". As I read this text, I underlined at least 5 variations on the phrases: "everyone whose heart is so moved", and "all the men and women whose hearts moved them". These phrases, and the immediate generous response of the Jewish people, deeply touched me. It touches me in the Torah, and it touches me as I witness so many whose hearts are so moved within our Temple Emanu-El community. It is a given that all of us are very busy, and there's no one here whose time on earth is not precious. This year I've been privileged to work with parents of the B'nai Mitzvah Kiddish groups, the Membership Committee Volunteers, and members of the Board. And of course there are scores of other caring people who contribute from the heart to create the primary purpose for this Temple: making a sacred and welcoming space. In Vayakhel an over-abundance of gifts caused the artisans to request that Moses ask the people: stop already! Their efforts were more than enough. It reminds me of our last membership brunch in which there was an observation that we had too many bagels! Bagels from the heart, I believe. Another repetition of previous portions and those to come is the refrain of the command to keep Shabbat, ceasing work after six days of labor. "You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day" is stated as an example of a forbidden category of work. Of course we light our Sabbath candles traditionally 18 minutes before sundown, covering our eyes and then revealing the candles to ourselves as magically aflame. There is no prohibition against enjoying the light and heat of our Shabbat candles; no reason to sit in the dark. We can savor the process of being, instead of doing on Shabbat. As the Kabbalists suggest, we can meditate upon the candle flames that surround us, and upon the light in our hearts that so move us to create our holy space. Shabbat Shalom.
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