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Dvar Torah:

Our Dvar Torah: Pekudei: "Amounts of," What?

A Dvar Torah for Parshah Pekudei
Exodus 38:21–40:38

© Rabbi Shlomo Nachman ben Ya'akov *

The name of this week's parsha is "Pekudei" which means "Amounts of." At first glance this may seem like nothing more than a laundry list of items used thousands of years to build a fancy tent, the Mishkan and its accrutrements, that are long gone. But wait! Nothing in the Torah is without meaning. What is recorded there is recorded for all time.

Pekudei, which also means "accounts," is the last in a series of five Parshiot (Torah sections) describing the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary built by the people of Israel in the Sinai Desert by Divine command to serve as "a dwelling for God in the physical world." Surely all us understand that a mere tent, nor even the beutiful Beit Hamikdash (the Jerusalem "House of the Holy" Temple) built after the events recorded here, can not contain the glory of HaShem. His glory is manifested everywhere. The Divine Presence is limitless!

So, where is the Divine Presence today? Is it at the Kotel in Jerusalem? Of course! Was it in the Mishkan and Temple? No question. And, not but, the Divine Presence is with each of us.

1 Samuel 16:7 Adonai said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For Adonai sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but Adonai looks on the heart.

By enhancing our emunah, our motivating faith in God, and our bitichon, our absolute trust in Him, we can percieve His Presence within our very consciousness. We can enter into the blessed state of devekut where believing in God is transformed into knowing Him. How?

This week's parsha gives us the answer: Pekudei. When we live consciously and deliberately in His Presence, when we devote what we have to His service and keep an "accounting," which is say, remain mindful of our use of His gifts, the fiercesome Elohim becomes our Beloved and all fear melts away into love and gratitude as He bestows His Mercy on us.

For those who oppose Him and who seek to live apart from Him-as if such was possible-there is ירא (yārēʾ, pronounced ya-REH) fear, anxiety, self doubt, but for those who love Him this fear is replaced with the awe of His majesty and loving kindness, with His chessed. Interestly, yārēʾ means both! The context of our lives determines how yārēʾ will manifested.

The Shema reveals the essence of Judaism. There is only One God and he is be loved and obeyed at all times. Dwelling within this relationship produces love and awe and removes all fear. These words are inscibed in the small scrolls contained in a mezzuzah which we fasten to the doorposts of our homes. The mezzuzah reveals the secret of our success:

Listen Israel: Adonai is our God, Alone alone. You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

If only we would take this truth into hearts, our guts, our consciousness, how different everything would be! You would know God, ask yourself: How much do I bring to HaShem? Do I give Him my left-overs or first dibs? I'm not talking about money here! One can't buy His favor! Rather, how much of your life are you giving Him? How much of your day is occupied with thoughts of Him? His Torah? Doing good to others? How often do you perform acts of righteousness, charity, love? We are all different. We have different talents and gifts, different financial realities, different social networks and so on, but taking your uniqueness into account, how much are you bring to HaShem? Imagine if the Israelites had said to Moshe's call, "We will toss a few crumbs your way for the building of the Mishkan, but no more. There might have been no Mishkan! There might have been no Beit Hamikdah! Israel might have died in the wilderness like the other ancient people groups. But the people gave as they could, and HaShem blessed them with His Presence. Everything of value has a cost, but many people today want to recieve without paying the cost. A community of takers will not long survive! The Jews survive because traditionally they have been givers. An accurate accounting is good for the soul. Our Rebbe Teaches:

Be very eager to serve God. Do as much as you can every day and every moment. The main thing is practical action. Study as much as you can. Carry out many mitzvot. Spend a lot of time praying and pouring out your heart to God. Do as much as you possibly can.

Even so, do not allow yourself to be rushed on account of the many devotions you may encounter in Torah literature. Maybe you wonder, "When will I be able to practice even one of these devotions, let alone all of them?"

Don't allow such thoughts to frustrate you. It is no good to rush and try to achieve everything at once. Go forward steadily, step by step.

If you are overhasty, trying to grasp everything at once, you may become totally confused, like when a house burns down and people snatch the most worthless items in their panic.

Go forward steadily, one step at a time. If you are unable to do everything, that is not your fault. God exempts those under duress.

There may be many things that you cannot do. Even so, you should long and yearn to fulfill them. The longing itself is a great thing - for God desires the heart - Sichot Haran #27

Got Questions or Comments?
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* By Rabbi Shlomo Nachman ben Ya'akov © March 14, 2024

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