Torah · Weekly Parasha VideoParashat PekudeiRabbi Uri Nahum · June 19, 2017 · Pekudei · פקודי · 15 Min Parasha RoundupSave⌄ShareParasha class with Rabbi Uri Nahum, from BSD Productions’ 15 Min Parasha Roundup.Transcript0:04Parashat Pekudei.0:31This week's parashah has 92 pesukim, and this is the final parashah in Sefer Shemot. Usually this parashah is read together with Parashat1:05Vayakhel when it's not a leap year. When it's a leap year, we read them separately. But always, this parashah will be at the end of the month. Either it will be at the end of the month of Adar, where we would be reading Parashat1:35HaChodesh this week, or it will be at the end of the month of Adar Rishon, where we'll be reading Parashat Shekalim. We divided the parashah into three parts. The first part of the parashah, Torah tells us an account summary of the silver, gold, and the copper that was used in the Mishkan. The second part of the parashah, Torah speaks about the making of the Kohen Gadol's clothing. And finally, the last part of the parashah, which is pretty much half of the parashah, the Torah speaks about Moshe's role in the construction of the Mishkan. No mitzvot in this week's parashah, and we'll begin with discussing the parashah in depth. The first part of the parashah, Torah gives us an account summary of the silver, gold, and the copper that was used in the Mishkan and that was collected. The Torah begins by telling us that the setup and the moving, carrying all the Mishkan as they were traveling, was all run by Itamar, and the construction was done by Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur and by his assistant Aholiab from Shevet Dan. Now, before we get to the details, exactly how much was collected, we just have to know a few things. Number one is, when the Torah says kikar, it means a talent. A talent is usually equal to2:011,500 shekel, the shekalim we'll talk about in a second. However, Rashi points out and Chazal point out that the ones that are mentioned in the Torah, the shekel in the Torah is actually double. So really, a kikar in our parashah really equals 3,000 shekel. Each shekel, for our sake, we're going to use grams, and then we'll talk about the value in a second. Each shekel is equal to 19.2 grams.2:05We're working with just the weight.2:07So now let's begin with the three things:2:10gold, silver, and copper.2:11With the gold, how much was collected?2:13The Torah tells us that they collected 29 kikar of gold2:17plus 730 shekalim,2:20which means that's a total of2:2587,730 shekel. Remember, each shekel is 19.2 grams,2:28so the total in grams of gold that was collected for the Mishkan2:31was 1,684,416 grams.2:38In dollar terms,2:40today the gram of gold is worth around2:47$42.94. So when you multiply that, we get to the total,2:49if you want to know in dollars,2:51it was2:57$72,328,823. That was the total of the worth of gold for the Mishkan.3:01And what was it used for?3:02It was used for some of the kelim that were made out of pure gold,3:05like the menorah,3:06like the top of the aron3:08and the boxes of the aron.3:10Also, a lot of the things that were covered in gold,3:12like for example the3:14shulchan or the3:15mizbeach hazahav or the kerashim,3:17those were covered with gold.3:19That's what they used the gold for.3:20Next we get to the silver.3:21Torah tells us3:22the total amount of silver,3:23which was the most collected from all the metals,3:25was 100 kikar and 1,775 shekalim,3:32which means the total in shekels,3:34301,775 shekalim.3:38In grams, that equals to 5,794,080 grams.3:44How much is that worth in dollars?3:46The price tag for one gram of silver today is 71 cents.3:52This is in 2014.3:55Which means that the total price of silver and dollars3:58that was collected for the3:59muskan was4:05$4,113,796.80. What was the silver used for?4:07Well, the Torah says clearly4:09that 100 kikar of silver was used for the adanim.4:12Those were the silver sockets4:14where the kerashim were placed onto,4:17and the other 1,775 shekel was used for the silver hooks,4:21the tops and the strings of the4:24amudei chatzer, the pillars of the4:26chatzer. Next we get to the copper.4:28Total of copper that was collected4:30was 70 kikar and 2,400 shekel,4:33which means it's a total of4:37212,400 shekalim. In grams, that equals 4,078,080 grams.4:42Now, how much is that worth?4:43You got to keep in mind,4:44copper today is not worth as it was once upon a time.4:47But in any case,4:48today one kilogram of copper is worth4:53$7.14. Not so expensive.4:53So the total comes out to4:58$29,117.49. But that's because today5:01copper is not such a wanted item.5:03In any case, what did they use the copper for?5:05The copper was used for the sockets of the pillars5:07for the entrance of the5:10Ohel Moed. Also, it was used for the covering of the5:15mizbeach hanechoshet, the outside mizbeach, the big one,5:17plus its utensils.5:18Also for the pegs that were used5:20to hold down the covers of the Mishkan,5:23or the courtyard walls, which were the5:26kelaim. They used these pegs that were made out of copper.5:32Next, the Torah gives us an account of the wool.5:34There's three types of wool, like we mentioned.5:36The three types of wool are5:37the color of turquoise, purple, and red.5:41Those were used for the kohen gadol's clothing,5:45plus also the special covers5:49that were used to cover the5:50kelim as they traveled, called the5:54bigdei serad. With that, we move on now5:55to the second part of the5:57parashah. It tells us about the making of the Kohen Gadol's clothing.5:59In Parashat Vayakhel, last week's6:01parashah, the Torah reiterated all the details6:03of the making of the Mishkan,6:06and in this week's6:08parashah, the Torah reiterates the6:10details of the Kohen Gadol's clothing.6:11So we mentioned already, for the full details,6:14you really have to listen to the class6:16that we gave on Parashat Tetzaveh,6:18and even then it's only in short,6:20so we'll just go very quickly.6:21The four clothing that were unique to the Kohen Gadol6:24were the ephod, the6:27choshen, the me'il ha-techelet, and the tzitz.6:29The ephod was this apron6:31that covered the back of Aharon,6:33which started from middle of his stomach,6:36right below his elbows,6:37and ran all the way down to his ankles,6:39and it had this very, very colorful look to it,6:42and that was the6:44ephod, was tied on by a belt called the6:49cheshev ha-ephod. The choshen, which was the twelve special stones,6:53that's the ones that if you look at the Kohen Gadol,6:54you see those twelve stones in four rows.6:57Those were placed on a cloth,6:59and inside that cloth there was a parchment7:01in which Hashem's name was written,7:03and those were the four-letter name of Hashem,7:06and that was called the7:07Urim ve-Tumim, and that was suspended on the ephod with golden chains.7:15Next is, the Torah tells us about the7:18me'il ha-techelet, the robe.7:18It was a special blue robe7:20that went from the neckline of the Kohen,7:22that went all the way down to his ankles,7:24and it had on the bottom seventy-two gold bells7:27and seventy-two balls in the shape of pomegranate7:30made out of cloth,7:31and the tzitz, which was basically a7:36headplate, 1.6 inches high, tall,7:39which covered the forehead of the Kohen Gadol7:41and had the letters, the words Kodesh LaShem etched on it.7:45The four clothing of the Kohanim,7:48which were also shared by the Kohen Gadol,7:50were the michnasayim, which were the shorts7:52that went directly on. That was actually the first item7:54that was worn by the Kohanim.7:55The ketonet tashbetz, which was a robe7:57very similar to the me'il, it just—8:00This one was made out of linen and it didn't have anything on the bottom like the me'il had.8:05The abnet, which was a belt, which was 32 amot long, which is about 50 feet 4 inches,8:10and that was just wrapped around to use as a belt.8:13And of course the migba'at, that was the hat. Really it's not really a hat; it was a turban8:17that was 16 amot long, which means 25 feet long, and they just wrapped it around till they made it into a hat.8:24From there we move to the last part of this week's parashah,8:26and the third part and the final part, which is Moshe's role in the construction of the Mishkan.8:31Right when they finished making everything, the chachamim tell us that everything was completed on Chaf Hei Kislev,8:39which would later on become the holiday of Hanukkah.8:44But still Hashem didn't want to put up the whole Mishkan until Rosh Chodesh Nisan,8:48which is the month when the avot were born.8:51Yitzchak was born in Nisan, Avraham was also born in Nisan.8:53So therefore they brought everything over to Moshe to get his confirmation,8:58to see if this was good.9:00Moshe examines everything and he approves of everything that the Bnei Yisrael have done,9:04and he gives a berachah to the Jewish people and he tells them,9:07Yehi ratzon9:11shetishreh Shechinah b'ma'aseh yedeichem. It should be the will of God that His presence should come on the actions that you've done.9:16That means your work should not go to waste, and Hashem should bring His presence on this Mishkan.9:21To that the Jewish people respond with the pasuk in Tehillim,9:24Vihi noam Adonai Eloheinu aleinu, ma'aseh yadeinu konenah aleinu, ma'aseh yadeinu konenehu.9:30Let the pleasantness of Hashem be on the actions of our hands and on us.9:37Then Moshe is commended by Hashem.9:38Then the Torah tells us that Moshe is commended by Hashem,9:41that he should set up the Mishkan, put up the Mishkan on Rosh Chodesh Nisan.9:44Besides setting up the Mishkan, putting up the Mishkan,9:47Moshe is commended by Hashem to do three things.9:49Number one is to set up the Mishkan and all its parts in their places.9:53That means the aron to be in the Kodesh9:56Kodashim, to put the parochet to divide between the Kodesh and the Kodesh9:59Kodashim, to place the shulchan and the menorah opposite each other,10:04mizbeach hazahav, also where the kiyor and the mizbeach hanechoshet should be placed.10:09Also, Moshe was commended that he should prepare the Kohanim by dressing them10:13and by pouring on them the10:15shemen hamishcha, and also to anoint all the utensils of the Mishkan as well as the Kohanim,10:23and that was the job that Moshe was10:26commended. And then the Torah tells us that Moshe, what actually Moshe did.10:30Even though the Torah tells us that Moshe was commended to put up the Mishkan on Rosh Chodesh Nisan,10:35Chachamim tell us that really he started doing it on Chav Gimel Adar.10:38Chav Gimel Adar Moshe started putting up the Mishkan.10:40However, as we'll learn in Parashat Tzav,10:42that although Moshe put it up on Chav Gimel Adar,10:45Hashem didn't rest His Shechinah until Rosh Chodesh Nisan came about.10:52And there were reasons why Hashem did it in such a way.10:55In any case, Rosh Chodesh Nisan, which is mentioned in this week's parasha,11:00is when Moshe put up the Mishkan permanently, and became11:05already—that's when Hashem places11:07Shechinah. And the details of that is actually in Parashat Shemini.11:11Since Moshe did not participate in any building of the material of the Mishkan,11:15for example, he didn't make any of the clothing or the kelim like the Aron or anything,11:20they gave the honor of putting up the Mishkan to Moshe.11:23In fact, Chazal tell us that nobody had the physical ability to put up the Mishkan11:28except for Moshe Rabbeinu.11:29Everything was very heavy.11:30If you remember all the details, you see things—they weighed a lot.11:35And besides the honor, Moshe was the only one.11:37And still, the pasuk says,11:41Hu kam haMishkan. Hu kam haMishkan means that the Mishkan was put up by itself.11:44It was put up in a miraculous way.11:46Moshe just started to begin to put up the Mishkan;11:49Hashem gave him the assistance,11:51siyata dishmaya, and everything was put up by itself.11:54Moshe started first by making the Mishkan,11:57which is the Ohel11:58Moed, and then placing the kelim in their right places,12:01which is the Aron, the Shulchan, the12:03Menorah, and then he set up the courtyard the way it's supposed to be,12:06with the mizbeach outside12:09and making the12:10kelaim, putting the walls of the courtyard where it's supposed to be.12:13And once everything was done,12:16the Torah testifies. That everything was done precisely as Hashem commanded.12:20You'll see that the word12:22ka'asher tzivah Hashem et Moshe,12:23written in the parashah numerous times.12:26In fact, even in the making of the clothing of the Kohen Gadol,12:29in beginning the parashah, the Torah mentions12:30that everything was done precisely as Hashem said.12:33In fact, you'll count, you'll see there's 18 times12:36when it says that everything was done12:38ka'asher tzivah Hashem et Moshe,12:40like Hashem commanded Moshe.12:42And then the Torah concludes,12:43Sefer Shemot concludes,12:44in a very identical way12:46that we find also in the end of Parashat Mishpatim.12:49It says that the cloud filled up the Mishkan,12:53and the presence of Hashem was there,12:55the honor of Hashem was there,12:56everybody was able to see12:58that Hashem came back to live with the Jewish people,13:00and finally Hashem came back to live13:03together here with us13:04after the sin of the13:06Chet HaEgel. This was a sign that Hashem forgave all the Jewish people,13:09and that's how we finish Parashat Pekudei13:13and how we finish Sefer Shemot.13:15What are we to learn from this week's13:17parashah? We already learned all the details in the previous13:20parashot. What can we learn in this week's13:22parashah? Midrash Tehillim.13:24Midrash is going on the famous mizmor,13:27Mizmor Tzadik Aleph, 91.13:30It says over there in the mizmor,13:34Yoshev b'seter Elyon, b'tzel Shaddai yitlonan. The one who sits above, high and above, hidden,13:40lies or sleeps, or more like lies,13:45in b'tzel Shaddai, in the shadow of Hashem.13:47What is this mizmor talking about?13:48So the Midrash says like this,13:51that Moshe Rabbeinu said13:53when he was given the commandment to build the Mishkan,13:55he said,14:00Mi yuchal la'asot mikdash sheyishreh betocho? Shehu omer, Va'asu li mikdash. Moshe wondered, how in the world are we going to make anything for Hashem14:04that He's going to live here?14:05Hashem is going to14:06live—who's proper to be able to make a Mishkan that fits Hashem?14:10It's such a small area that Hashem is commanding,14:13and also that we should be able to bring the Shechinah down.14:16So Midrash says that Hashem told him,14:21K'she'ani mevakesh, ha'olam eino yachol lehachzikeni. If you really want Me to be here,14:23the whole world is not enough for Me.14:26However,14:31ani mibakesh mimcha ela eser amot batzafon, eser amot badarom, ve'eser bamaarav. Oh, I'm asking from you, Moshe,14:33just give me ten amot in the north,14:36give me ten amot in the south,14:38and ten amot in the west.14:41And the conclusion of the Midrash is,14:48This is the meaning that Hashem sat in the shadow.14:50Min, the shadow is very small14:52in comparison to the person; it's very, very tiny, it's very flat.14:55That's the same idea.14:56The whole world cannot contain Hashem,14:57and Hashem still chose to live in the small little area called the Mishkan.15:02What are we to learn from this Midrash?15:03The Midrash is giving us an amazing idea.15:06Really, if a person thinks about it,15:08there's nothing that a person could really do15:09that could properly give respect to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.15:14Who are we,15:15little creations that Hashem created us,15:17that we should be able to do something,15:18and especially to make a house for HaKadosh Baruch Hu?15:21Still, Hashem's answer to Moshe Rabbeinu15:24is that, That's not what I'm asking for.15:25I'm not asking honor that's befitting Me.15:28I'm asking your greatest effort.15:30When you put your greatest effort to making Me something,15:33that is an honor for Me.15:35You're not going to make something15:37physical that's going to be able to match My greatness.15:40But what I look for,15:42in order that I should rest My15:44Shechinah, is that I want to see that you put your greatest effort.15:46Chazal tell us,15:48Our shuls are like a Mishkan.15:49Our houses are like a Mishkan.15:51In both these places, Hashem rests as a place.15:53What Hashem asks of us15:55is that we should put our greatest effort15:57to make it a place that's appropriate for Hashem.16:00Hashem will come and livvod us, regardless of the size, regardless of the grandeur, as16:04long as we put our greatest effort.16:30Shabbat shalom.