SEDRA : Vayakhel - Shekalim Hertz Chumash p. 373 Exodus Ch. 35

This week's Sedra is generously sponsored by David Weissman.

SYNOPSIS

("And he (Moses) assembled the people...) Moses transmitted the details of G-d's commands relating to the construction of the Sanctuary and its contents. However, he first emphasised - in the presence of the entire nation congregated before him - that the Holiness of the Shabbat overrides all other considerations, even work on G-d's own house.

The response of the people when first asked to contribute to the building of the Sanctuary was exceedingly generous, each individual donating whatever he could. Skilled women spun the materials. The tribal Princes each offered precious stones for the breastplate of the High Priest as well as oil and spices for the incense. Some women even donated the mirrors of highly burnished copper for the manufacture of the Laver and its vase.

Moses emphasised that Betzalel of the tribe of Judah had been singled out for his talent, wisdom and understanding of the details of the construction. His colleague Oholiav of the tribe of Dan was similarly talented, especially as an engraver and weaver.

The gifts for building the Sanctuary became so plentiful it was necessary to ask the donors to stop bringing more materials. The Sanctuary and its contents soon began to take shape, section by section.

IN SOME YEARS THIS SEDRA COINCIDES WITH SHABBAT SHEKALIM IN WHICH CASE WE RECITE A SPECIAL MAFTIR AND HAPHTORAH.

SPECIAL MAPHTIR SHABBAT SHEKALIM HERTZ CHUMASH P. 352 Exodus 30 verses 11 - 16

The Maphtir for Shabbat Shekalim is taken from the opening section of the sedra "Ki Tissa". It introduces the law for every Israelite over 20 years to make an annual contribution of a half shekel towards the maintenance of the Temple and its services as `atonement for his Soul'.

THE HAPHTORAH HERTZ CHUMASH P. 999 Ezechiel Ch. 36, verses 16 - 38

The theme of the haphtorah relates to the special maphtir in that they both deal with the subject of purification. "How Israel is to emerge from the grave of Exile, of undefiled service of G-d".(Hertz)

TELL ME RABBI ..... THE JEWS AND PALESTINE by D Lloyd George, 1923

Of all the bigotries that savage the human temper there is none so stupid as the anti-Semitic.

In the sight of these fanatics, Jews of today can do nothing right. If they are rich they are birds of prey. If they are poor they are vermin. If they are in favour of war, that is because they want to exploit the bloody feuds of Gentiles to their own profit. If they are anxious for peace they are either instinctive cowards or traitors. If they give generously-and there are no more liberal givers than the Jews-they are doing it for some selfish purpose of their own. If they don't give - then what would one expect of a Jew! If labour is oppressed by great capital, the greed of the Jew is held responsible. If labour revolts against capital-as it did in Russia-the Jew is blamed for that also. If he lives in a strange land he must be persecuted and pogrommed out of it. If he wants to go back to his own (land) he must be prevented ...

It will be long ere Canaan becomes once more a land flowing with milk and honey. The Jews alone can redeem it from the wilderness and restore its ancient glory.

They belong to a race which for at least 1,900 years has been subjected to persecution, pillage, massacre and the torments of endless derision; a race that has endured persecution which for variety of torture - physical, material and mental - inflicted on its victims, for the virulence and malignity with which it has been sustained, for the length of time it has lasted, and, more than all, for the fortitude and patience with which it has been suffered, is without parallel in the history of any other people.

Is it too much to ask that those among them whose sufferings are the worst shall be able to find refuge in the land their fathers made holy by the splendour of their genius, by the loftiness of their thoughts, by the consecration of their lives and by the inspiration of their message to mankind! ***********************************************
In the 70 years since Lloyd George's words were written his views on anti Semites sadly still are true. He views Jewish suffering as "without parallel" in 1923. What would he have written after the Holocaust?
His comments on a "land flowing with milk and honey" and of the Jewish role in its restoration are prophetic except (thankfully) it has not been that "long".

SHABBAT SHEKALIM IS DEDICATED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF THE JEWISH NATIONAL FUND AND ITS HOLY WORK OF REBUILDING THE LAND OF ISRAEL