Rabbi Howard Morrison

Sermon delivered this past Shabbat (March 9, 2024)

 Today's Parsha of Vayakhel reads almost identical to Terumah just a few weeks ago. In both, we read of the artisans, Betzalel and Oholiav, who design and craft the beauty of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. The people had offered all kinds of gems starting with gold, silver, and copper to beautify Judaism's first central gathering place. If Terumah was the conceptual design, then Vayakhel is the execution of that design almost word for word.

Precious gems and stones define the beauty and purpose of the Mishkan. For example, the portable Ark was laid with gold on the outside and inside to teach that one's character should be internally and externally consistent. The High Priest wore 12 different kinds of gemstones on his breast plate, recognizing the distinctiveness of every Jew and also knowing that all Jews are part of a singular whole.

Just under one month ago, after a miraculous IDF plan, two of the hostages, Fernando Marman and Louis Har, were rescued by IDF special forces. For them, the theory of Terumah became the actualization of Vayakhel. These two liberated captives were seen as precious gems by their liberators, akin to the splendor of the Mishkan and the Priestly garb. The security forces remarked, "The diamond are in our hands." Subsequent to that great rescue, the sentiment is now "No rest until all the diamonds are in our hands." For our people, the question is not IF bur rather WHEN all the hostages are brought home.

In Jewish law, Pidyon Shevuyim, the redemption of captives, is a supreme Mitzvah. The great challenge for Israel now is how to fulfill that Mitzvah without becoming an enabler to the evil forces of Hamas. There is no doubt in my mind that every Jew, every leader of our people, has the same goal in mind.

In these final Torah portions of Sefer Shmot, the first ever Tabernacle symbolizes the unity of our people. Our Parshah today began with the words, "Vayakhel Moshe Et Kol Adat Bnai Yisrael - Moses assembled all the entities of the Children of Israel."  The precious stones on the Priestly breastplate symbolize the unity of our people.

The architects, Betsalel from the largest tribe and Oholiav from the smallest tribe, symbolize the unity of our people. Today's Maftir of Shekalim, also read in last week's Parsha, symbolizes the unity of our people where every 20 year old and up contributed the same exact amount of a half-shekel.

I hope and pray that long before our solidarity mission to Israel we will hear good news about many more if not all of the remaining precious gems of our people being restored to our hands.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison