"

Pekudei
Friday, February 28, 2014 / "-"

Candle Lighting: 5:57 Havdala: 6:58

Note: The Halachic times listed here are from www.myzmanim.com.

The Hidden Meaning of Parashat Shkalim

By Zak Fleischman, 10 th Grade
This week we start the cycle of the four Parshiot, being Shkalim, Zachor, Parah, HaChodesh. On Shabbat we read Parashat Shkalim, the story of the census of Bnei Yisrael in the desert. What is the point of reading this tale and making it a special Parashah? Surely there are more important things than a census/ fundraising activity for the Mishkan?! Shkalim also has a far deeper meaning. This Parashah is the first example of Bnei Yisrael doing Tzedakah as a nation. Bnei Yisrael are not only being counted, and not only helping the Mishkan, but they are also donating their hard earned money for the benefit of the community. In Shkalim, everyone gives the exact same amount and everyone is counted equally in the census. This teaches us that no matter what we give, how little or how much, it is the intentions that we have while giving that matter. This is why we begin the four Parshiot with Shkalim. The lesson we are being told going into the holiday season is that we are not supposed to focus on ourselves. Entering a time of great joy and happiness, Chazal remind us that it is imperative to help and think of others in need in order to truly celebrate these upcoming weeks.

Page 1 of 4 A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication

"

Moshes Mysterious Blessing

By Alan Soclof, 10
th

Cheit HaEgel. The fact that Bnei Yisrael did exactly what Hashem said without failing at any single minute detail showed that they had resumed their full commitment to Hashem. Recognizing this, Moshe blessed them that Hashem should recognize this as well. When Moshe blesses the nation he shows them that they have won himself and Hashem back, and they are now worthy of being that nation that was envisioned back at Har Sinai. With this idea we can see that Bnei Yisrael have come full circle from the beginning of Sefer Shemot. The Midrash says that they were on the lowest possible level of impurity. They arose from this and while there were many ups and downs, Sefer Shemot ends on a true high note of complete Teshuva and renewed Avodat Hashem. Chazak Chazak VeNitchazek!

Grade

This weeks Parashah is about the completion and the details of the Mishkan. Right after the Mishkan was completed we see Moshe do something very interesting. The passuk says, Moshe saw all the work that Bnei Yisrael did and Moshe blessed them. Rashi says that the Bracha was, May it be His will that the Shechinah should rest in the work of your hands. And may the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us. The question I would like to pose is why did Moshe bless the Jewish people after the completion of the mishkan? Why here? Why now? And why this Bracha in particular? The Abarbanel says that the Mishkan was completed without one flaw. Moshe appreciated this and was happy that Bnei Yisrael listened to the exact words of Hashem. Bnei Yisrael had just made an enormous mistake in their Avodas Hashem, with

Whose Mishkan Is It?

By Mrs. Estee Fleischmann, Dean of Students, Stark High School
The Most Important Day in the Torah, ' , which occurs the second year after Bnei Yisrael left Egypt, appears first in this weeks Parashat Hashavua, . After what seems like weeks of reading in the Torah about descriptions of the design, the architecture, the artistry, the building, the weaving and the creation of the , we have finally arrived at the moment we have all been waiting for. Hashem instructs Moshe (: ) to set up all the , arrange them to be used, and then inaugurate them. Hashem also tells Moshe to gather Aharon and his children, the Kohanim, to dress them in their and anoint them for their service.

Page 2 of 4 A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication

Moshe is the central character in the Torah as a whole, but particularly in the books of ,, and . , called , describes in great detail the utility of the how it is to be used, and the main character is . This , so lovingly and carefully engineered under Moshes leadership, will be used exclusively by and his sons. So why does Moshe inaugurate it, and light the menorah, burn , and place on the if this is not his role in the future? R. Elchanan Samet suggests an important distinction that will help explain this. On one hand the was a , a tent of meeting, where Hashem would communicate with Moshe. This structure now replaces the previous . This was a use that was limited exclusively to Moshe. It was in this location that the relationship that Hashem and Moshe developed on Har Sinai, amidst the clouds and fire, will now continue. This is why Hashem came down and filled the with the 53:04( ). It was also a , a tent of service. This capacity is

" only developed and explored in when Aharon and his sons transform it into a place where the happens. This Perek is the bridge, the link, between the building of the structure and its entry into service. At first, it is the meeting place between Hashem and his agent, Moshe. Only after does it assume its main function, to be a meeting place between the agent of Bnei Yisrael, Aharon and his sons, and Hashem. I think there is an important underlying question that needs to be considered. Does something (an item, an event, even a piece of literature) belong to the person who created it, and oversaw its development, or does it belong to those who use it, who bring it into the world and breathe life into it. Moshe and Hashem deserved the opportunity to meet in the they had designed, but for the to complete its mission, it needed to be handed off to the . What do you think?

Shabbat Table Discussion Questions:

By Avi Hartstone, 10 t h Grade
1. 2. Why is Itamar designated over everyone else as the foreman in the Mishkan? (38:21) Why does the Torah have to include the whole process of Moshe building the Mishkan if it already said that Moshe did what Hashem commanded him to do? (40:17-33) Why does the Torah have to repeat all of the Kohanims articles of clothing? (39:2-31)

3.

Page 3 of 4 A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication

"
4. Why was the Kohen Gadol allowed to wear wool and linen together for the ephod? Doesn't it violate Shatnez? (39:2) Why are the Shkalim called Shekel HaKodesh? (38:24)
next week's edition!

5.

Email us at FMSshemesh@gmail.com with your answers or submit them on our website, fmsdvartorah.weebly.com, and you could be featured in

Answers to last weeks questions:

Q1: Why is Shabbat the only commandment repeated before the construction of the Mishkan? (35:1-3) A: So that the Jews know not to work in the Mishkan on Shabbat. Once its construction is complete, certain work will be allowed, but that is not until it is consecrated. (Yosef Coleman, 11th Grade) Q5: How was Betzalel able to build the Aron if whoever touched it died? (37:1-5) A: Betzalel was able to touch the Aron as he was building it. Before it was fully built, it was not holy, so one was able to touch it and not die. (Yosef Coleman, 11th Grade)

Brought to you by: Staff: Editors in Chief- Ari Bar-Shain and Zev Karasik Associate Editors- Eli Meyers, Etan Soclof, and Yosef Coleman Faculty Consultant-Rav Rick Schindelheim Distribution Manager-Rivka Coleman Faculty Manager-Yael Blau Head Writers-Avi Hartstone and Zak Fleischman Student Writers:
o o o o o o o o o o o o Alan Soclof Ami Shamir Amital Haas Aviva Muskin Ben Jaffe Bentzion Goldman Ian Lorand Ilan Senders Jenna Fox Jennifer Brenis Joey Frank Joey Senders o o o o o o o o o o Lizzy Soclof Michael Brenis Mordechai Blau Sarah Pincus Seth Weiss Sonny Kugelman Talya Engelhart Yonah Bar-Shain Yonaton Shiller Zach Zlatin Ziva Bibbins

!
Please be sure to check out our new website: fmsdvartorah.weebly.com! Page 4 of 4 A Fuchs Mizrachi Stark High School Publication