Kahal Joseph Congregation

310.474.0559 / webmaster@kahaljoseph.org
10505 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Rabbi’s Message

Rabbi Natan Halevy

Pekudei 5784, BSD

Shalom uVracha.

The portion begins with the verse, “These are the accounts of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were accounted for at the directive of Moses…by means of Itamar the son of Aharon”. 

In connection with this verse, the Midrash quotes King Solomon, “A man of trust will abound with blessings” (Proverbs 28:20). We find that anyone who is trustworthy, Hashem brings blessings through him. Of one who is not trustworthy it is stated: “But one who hastens to become rich will not be absolved” (Proverbs 28:20).  “A man of trust” refers to Moses, who is the trusted one of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Not so is My servant Moses; in My entire house he is trusted” (Numbers 12:7). That is, “a man of trust will abound with blessings,” as all the matters over which he was appointed executor would be blessed, because he was trustworthy. “But one who hastens to become rich will not be absolved” – this is Koraḥ, who was a Levite and sought to take the high priesthood. What was his end? “The earth opened its mouth [and swallowed them up]” (Numbers 16:32). 

Another idea connected to “A man of trust” referring to Moses, who became the executor for the labor of the Tabernacle. Our Rabbis taught a law: ‘One does not appoint an authority over the public in monetary matters that is fewer than two people’, yet we find that Moses was executor himself, and the Rabbis said, ‘One does not appoint fewer than two’? Rather, even though Moses was executor himself, he would call others and calculate with them, as it is stated: “These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle.” It is not written here, “as Moses reckoned,” but rather, “as they were reckoned at the directive of Moses” – by means of Moses, “by means of Itamar.” The reason for this great caution when dealing with communal funds and affairs is based on the Torah teaching.

As a person must pass the scrutiny of people just as he must pass the scrutiny of Hashem, as it is stated: “And you shall be vindicated before the Lord and before Israel” (Numbers 32:22). Since he was obviously on the highest levels of truth and morality, Moses was the executor of the labor of the Tabernacle by himself. It is because when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses to craft the Tabernacle, immediately, “Every man whose heart inspired him came…and brought the gift of the Lord for the labor of the Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 35:21). In how many days did they bring all the gifts? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: They brought it in two mornings, and there was a surplus, as it is stated: “The labor was sufficient…and beyond” (Exodus 36:7). Moses came to Betzalel and saw that he had a surplus of materials from the Tabernacle. He said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, we performed the labor of the Tabernacle and have a surplus. What shall we do with the surplus?’ He said to him: ‘Go and craft with them a tabernacle for the Testimony.’ Moses went and he crafted it with the surplus materials. When he came to give a reckoning, he said to them: ‘Such and such was expended for the Tabernacle, and with the surplus I crafted a tabernacle for the Testimony.’ That is, “these are the reckonings of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” Moses was completely forthright with the nation about every detail of the donations and what they were used for. This is a shining example of the level of morality that is truly required by leaders.

What are the words in our verse “the Testimony”, ‘ in hebrew ,פקודי’ referring to on a deeper level? Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Yishmael said: It is testimony for all who enter the world that there is forgiveness for Israel from the sin of the golden calf. Alternatively, it is testimony for the entire world that Moses was appointed by the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: To what is this matter comparable? To a king who took a wife and loved her exceedingly. He became angry at her and left her, and her neighbors would say to her: ‘He will never come back to you.’ Sometime later, he sent to her and said: ‘Sweep my palace and make the beds, as on such and such day I will come to you.’ When that day arrived, the king came to her and reconciled with her. He entered the palace and came to her, and ate and drank with her. Her neighbors did not believe it. When they smelled the fragrance of perfume, they knew that the king had reconciled with her. So too, the Holy One blessed be He loved Israel and brought them before Mount Sinai. He gave them the Torah and called them a kingdom of priests, as it is stated: “You will be for Me a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). Forty days later, they sinned. At that moment, the idolaters said: He will never again be reconciled with them, as it is stated: “They said among the nations: They will not reside here anymore” (Lamentations 4:15). When Moses went to ask for mercy for them, the Holy One blessed be He immediately forgave them, as it is stated: “The Lord said: “I have forgiven in accordance with your statement” (Numbers 14:20). Moses said: ‘Master of the universe, I am satisfied that You have pardoned Israel, but proclaim before the eyes of all the nations that there is no residual resentment in Your heart against them.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, I will rest My Divine Presence in their midst,’ as it is stated: “They shall craft a Sanctuary for Me and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8), ‘and they will recognize that I have pardoned them.’ That is, “the Tabernacle of Testimony,” as it is testimony for Israel that the Holy One blessed be He has pardoned them.

In the merit of our learning these matters, may we be blessed to see the rebuilding of the Holy temple in Jerusalem and experience the ultimate peace of Mashiach speedily in our days.

Shabbat Shalom Umevorach!

Kahal Joseph Congregation

10505 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.474.0559 / webmaster@kahaljoseph.org