Vayakhel

📜 The Story

Moshe gathered (vayakhel) all of Bnei Yisrael together and first taught them about the mitzvah of Shabbat: work six days, and on the seventh day rest, without even kindling a fire. Shabbat is a holy and special day for the whole family.

Then Moshe asked everyone to donate materials for building the Mishkan, the special dwelling place for God's presence in the desert. Anyone whose heart moved them could bring gold, silver, copper, blue, purple and scarlet wool, acacia wood, oil, spices, and precious stones.

The people gave so generously and so happily that they brought more materials than the Mishkan actually needed! Moshe had to command the people to stop bringing more, because there was already 'enough for all the work, and more.' This is a rare and special moment in the Torah.

Hashem chose Betzalel son of Uri from the tribe of Yehuda and Oholiav son of Achisamach from the tribe of Dan to be the master craftsmen. He filled them with a Godly spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, so they could skillfully build all the vessels of the Mishkan.

The wise craftsmen built the curtains of the Mishkan, the beams, the Ark, the Table, the Menorah, the golden altar, the copper altar, and also the Kiyor (laver), which was made from the copper mirrors that the righteous women joyfully donated.