PARASHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI Parshat P'kudei is the final weekly portion of the Book of Exodus; usually, but not always, it is read with the preceding parasha. P'kudei relates the final details of the building of the Mishkan (the portable Sanctuary), and takes its name from the accounting of all the gold and other precious metals used in its construction. With all the details built and ready to go, God finally gives Moshe explicit permission to complete the Mishkan and dedicate not only its vessels and adornments but also the Kohanim (priests) who were to serve within it. The final paragraphs of Exodus are the dramatic climax of the entire story of the Mishkan: once all the tasks were completed, God's palpable Presence rests in it, at the centre of the Israelite camp, a Presence so powerful that even Moshe could not approach the innermost parts of the Sanctuary. The Divine Presence appeared as a cloud by day and as fire by night, and led the people in their long journey. These are the accountings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Witnessing, which were reckoned at Moshe's instructions. " (Exodus 38:21) Once most of the work of building the Mishkan is completed, Moshe apparently wants to make an accounting of all the precious metals used in its construction. The workers who did the crafting and all the specific amounts of gold, silver and copper are listed, as well as how much was donated from various sources and what was made from the metals. One could ask why Moshe felt it necessary to make such a thorough listing of all the precious metals used in the Mishkan; after all, he himself, along with Bezalel and Oholiab, who were chosen by God, supervised the collecting and crafting! Most commentators understand this to be an example of ethical responsibility: even though Moshe himself supervised the collection of the gold and silver, he owed it to the people - the donors - to account for every single coin. If the Mishkan was to attract the love and loyalty of the entire Israelite people, there could not even be the possibility of suspicion about the slightest financial impropriety. One commentator makes a comment to the effect that God's Presence would dwell only in a place with absolutely "kosher" financial accounting practices! Shabbat Shalom. .