Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei/Chodesh March 12, 2021

A Taste of Stories for the Soul Rest Assured by Aharon Wilen Against All Odds based on a story on mishpacha.com Moshe, upon his final descent from Mt. initial command to construct the Mishkan Sinai after receiving the second set of Luchos in the parshios of Teruma and Tetzaveh The day Bergen-Belsen was liberated, an (Tablets), gathers the Jewish People for a and its actual construction in the parshios American officer came to the camp to public address. One would expect that the of Vayakhel and Pekudei. The fundamental help the inmates with their immediate very first thing Moshe would tell the Bnai difference that resulted in all these changes needs. He met Rabbi , Yisrael after his descent from Mt. Sinai is, as Rashi (Shemos 31:18) points out, that who had been part of the leadership of would be the most important and relevant the initial command occurred before the the Novardok before World War information he received during his time on Sin of the Golden Calf, while the actual II. One aspect of the ’s the mountain. Moshe told the Bnai Yisrael construction of the Mishkan took place unique approach was to decide what about building the Mishkan (Tabernacle). afterward. needed to be done and to go ahead and do it, no matter how difficult and unlikely Why was the Mishkan the most vital item to When the Jews believed Moshe dead and convey? success appeared, and place one’s reliance turned, to some degree, to idol worship with upon Hashem. The Jewish People had reached the highest the Sin of the Golden Calf, their relationship level possible in their relationship with with Hashem was shaken. Committing this “What would you like?” asked the Hashem at the revelation on Mt. Sinai. sin also seriously reduced their spiritual officer to Rabbi Liebman. “To establish The Mishkan was to be the place where level. The Mishkan’s original design was for a yeshiva!” Rabbi Liebman exclaimed. that relationship would continue. It would a people who were spiritually perfect, on The soldier hadn’t been expecting such a provide a place for the constant interaction the highest level ever reached by humanity, forceful answer, and hadn’t heard such a with Hashem and would be where His a continuation of what they achieved at Mt. request before. “Where?” he asked. “Right Shechina (Hashem’s presence in this world) Sinai. After this dramatic drop in the spiritual here,” said Rabbi Liebman. “And who would reside among His Nation. It is state of the Jewish People, the Mishkan had to will be the leader of this yeshiva?” “I will!” understood, then, that the most important be modified in order to be able to function “And who will be the students?” “I will be thing to teach the people at this moment was for a people on a much lower spiritual the student!” Rabbi Liebman said. “What how to construct the Mishkan and capture level. Many details in the construction were else do you want?” asked the officer. that relationship forever. therefore changed to compensate for this “Nothing,” said Rabbi Liebman. The strange thing is that Moshe prefaced this new reality. As far as the officer could tell, Rabbi teaching about the Mishkan with the laws of With this idea, Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon Liebman had become unhinged by his Shabbos. Shabbos is, of course, of upmost explains why it was necessary for Moshe to sufferings. He left him and made no effort to fulfill his request. Still, on his own importance. In the Torah, we find the term switch the order of Shabbos and the Mishkan. initiative, Rabbi Liebman announced the “Shabbos laShem,” Shabbos is sanctified for At the time of the original command to opening of a yeshiva in Bergen-Belsen. He Hashem. It is a time to think of Hashem, make the Mishkan, Bnai Yisrael still had an was the (head of the yeshiva), to contemplate the basics of emuna (faith in untainted bond with Hashem and were on and he let it be known that anyone who Hashem) and to put those ideas into practice. the level to continue the relationship created wanted to learn could join him. He found Nonetheless, one must still wonder, why at Mt. Sinai through the Mishkan. After an old synagogue in with a full did Moshe need to discuss Shabbos before the Sin of the Golden Calf, however, the set of Mishnayos. He soon had over a getting to the Mishkan? relationship was damaged by idol worship, hundred students. This is especially perplexing if we look back to which left them with weakened emuna. Left when Moshe himself was being taught about at that level, they were not deserving of a Rabbi Liebman later moved to the Mishkan. When Hashem taught Moshe Mishkan. The path to repairing their emuna in 1948. With no family, money, or the plans for the Mishkan, He first told him and relationship with Hashem, and thereby knowledge of the French language, he about the Mishkan with all its details, and regaining the ability to have a Mishkan, lay decided he was opening a yeshiva there. followed that with the mitzvah of Shabbos. in Shabbos. Despite the enormous challenges, he succeeded in opening a yeshiva in Lyons, Why did Moshe switch the order and put Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievski (1899-1985; Shabbos first? France. And he was successful. Over the better known as The Steipler) wrote to years, he and his students opened dozens Rabbi Yehoshua Heller (1814-1880), in numerous people who complained to him of Jewish institutions, from elementary his work Ohel Yehoshua, points out that about challenges in their emuna that a segula schools to old-age homes, across France. in the myriad details of the Mishkan, there (spiritual remedy) to rise above questions are actually many differences between the in emuna is to improve one’s observance of continued on back continued on back Happenings Halacha Riddles Last week we asked: How is it possible that erroneously recited ha’adama or ha’eitz instead SPRING-SUMMER AVOS a raw, unprepared vegetable would require a of shehakol in these scenarios, no additional UBANIM BEGINS THIS different blessing due to the location where it blessing is recited.) SHABBOS AFTERNOON is being consumed? Therefore, if a particular vegetable – for Answer: It would depend on whether the example, green beans, which are eaten raw The Kollel’s spring-summer vegetable is normally eaten raw or cooked in in some cultures but not in others – is eaten Avos Ubanim program begins a particular location. The halacha is that a both raw and cooked in one locale, one this Shabbos afternoon at fruit or vegetable that is normally consumed would recite ha’adama if eating it raw, while a the Kollel Torah Center in cooked, not raw, requires a shehakol if eaten shehakol would be recited by one eating it in a West Denver and Southeast raw. Conversely, if it is normally eaten raw, place where it is normally eaten only cooked. one would recite a shehakol when eating it (It is sometimes difficult to ascertain what is Denver. Learning begins one cooked. If it is eaten in either state, the regular regarded as “normal,” and a halachic authority hour before mincha, followed blessing of ha’eitz or ha’adama is recited should be consulted in case of uncertainty.) by nosh and prizes. For (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 205:1). The This week’s question: How is it possible to sponsorships and more info, same halacha would apply for a food normally create a requirement of a bracha for a food by email [email protected]. eaten only after baking/ roasting (e.g., certain adding a coating to it (where the coating is tafel nuts) or pickling (e.g., green tomatoes). (If one [secondary] and does not get its own blessing)? KOLLEL CLASSES CONTINUE VIA ZOOM MEETING Lives of Our Torah Leaders The Kollel is continuing many Rabbi Saadia Gaon - Part XX of its classes and offering The Jews living in these Moslem-ruled Rav Saadia sought to present a clear approach new classes via Zoom areas were influenced by this “enlightened” of Judaism’s principles and foundations in Meeting. You can tune in culture, and various heretical approaches matters of belief in an era where philosophy to live classes online or call and movements, such as Karaism discussed and reason played a major role in religious in on a phone. For a full previously, sprang up in Jewish communities. thought and belief.

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phone numbers to access A Taste of Torah this treasure trove of Torah, continued from front visit www.denverkollel.org or Shabbos by properly observing the laws of provides it. Shabbos is thus a major source of email [email protected]. Shabbos and by deepening one’s connection emuna that Hashem created and continuously to the spirit of Shabbos. He explained that runs the world at every moment. BUILD YOUR LEGACY AND the (Shabbos 118b) says, “If someone This idea that Shabbos is not only an expression SECURE THE FUTURE OF guards the Shabbos, even if he is as idolatrous of emuna but also a means of building emuna TORAH WITH LIVE ON/LIFE as the generation of Enosh (the third is expressed in the verse (Shemos 31:13), “You & LEGACY generation following the creation of Mankind, must guard My Shabbos… to know that I am during which idolatry began and spread), he The Kollel is one of 28 local Hashem Who makes you holy.” Using this is forgiven.” The reason that even idolatry principal, Moshe taught the Jewish People organizations selected to is forgiven for one who guards Shabbos is about Shabbos before he taught them about be part of Rose Community because Shabbos itself, which builds a person’s the Mishkan to provide them with the means Foundation’s Live On/LIFE faith in Hashem, will help him correct his to reconnect to their emuna in way that would & LEGACY program, which ways. Shabbos is the day upon which a Jew make them deserving of a Mishkan. withdraws from the world as he recognizes focuses on creating financial Shabbos is a time to reflect on the fundamental that despite the efforts a person invests during principles of our faith and to reinforce our stability for the future through the six days of the week, everything one has commitment to those principles by living the planned giving. Think it’s not in the world is ultimately because Hashem for you? Think again! Anyone day of Shabbos in the fullest way possible.

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matter the amount. Visit Stories for the Soul www.denverkollel.org, email continued from front [email protected] or In this week’s parsha, Hashem instructs your part and I will do Mine.” And that’s what call 303-820-2855 for more Moshe to erect the Mishkan. Moshe wondered happened. And so it has occurred with Jews information. how he could lift the massively heavy walls determined to do what they can, against all into place, but Hashem assured him, “You do odds, throughout the ages.

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