Unity of
Purpose
When the
Tabernacle is raised up, Yahweh will dwell with us
Shabbat Shalom Kol
Yisrael. It is our pleasure to present this week's Torah Parsha commentary by
Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi T. (Mordecai) Mitchell, Rabbi and Rosh Zaken of B'nai
Yeshurun Nazarene Yisraelite Synagogue, Kittanning, Pa. And board member of the
Union of Nazarene Yisraelite Congregations. It is our sincere hope and prayer
that these commentaries encourage, inspire, and strengthen the body of Messiah
in Kol Yisrael. This week we have a dual Parsha, VaYakhel
(And he assembled) Debarim (Exodus) 35:1 38:20 and Pekudei
(Accountings of or Appointments of)
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 38:21 40:38. Our Haftarah portion is Melakim
Aleph (1 Kings) 7:51 8:21. Our suggested Brit Chadasha reading is: Revelation
15:5 8 Please add Tehillim (Psalms) 1 and 15.
Let us please note
Shemoth 35:1 And Mosheh assembled all the congregation of the children of
Yisrael, and said to them, These are the Words which YHWH has commanded you to
do:
In order to make the
Word of YHWH known to the people, it is first necessary to assemble them
together. This may seem almost a trivial point, however, the lesson here for us
to realize is that when Yahweh wishes to speak so that His people will act, they
must first be assembled as one body. We are speaking of unity of purpose.
The Hebrew word for
assembly is k'hilah, and is found also in NehemYah 5:7 and
Debarim (Deuteronomy) 33:4. It is interesting to note that In Debarim 33:4 we
read: Mosheh commanded us a Torah, an inheritance of the assembly of
Ya'aqob. From this we gather that the Torah was not given to any one
person per se, but to Yisrael collectively, as they were assembled in unity and
obedience. In NehemYah chapter five, NehemYah solves a serious case of injustice
by convening an assembly (k'hilah) as we read in
5:7.
However, even more is
noteworthy concerning this word. K'hilah is related directly to
the word kohehlet (ISR version Qoheleth)
otherwise known as the Book of Ecclesiastes
(The Convener).
A
kohehlet is a speaker in an assembly (Qohelet 1:1 2). In
Shemoth 35;1, Mosheh was the Kohehlet. However, from this we can
conclude that all assembling must have a kohehlet or a speaker
someone to make known the word of Yahweh.
The word
K'hilah is also driectly related to the Hebrew word
Makhelah meaning a choir or chorus. From this we can
(correctly so) draw the inference that all such assembling (gathering together)
should have singing and musical praise as an integral part of the gathering and
worship.
VaYakhel
concerns the construction and detailed trappings of the Tabernacle they place
where Yisrael met with Almighty Yahweh. We must note that when it came to the
building of the Tabernacle, no detail was overlooked or altered. It is therefore
important for us to pay attention to seemingly trivial details. Often, such
details, upon closer study, turn out to be of paramount importance.
However, the overall
lesson for us is to realize that going to a Shabbat service or gathering on one
of the Moedim or for a minor festival is not an end in itself it is only a
beginning. Every week, when we assemble foe the Shabbat, our goal should be to
garner enough Light to take back with us and prepare to share that Light with
others.
Let us not forget the
admonition to gether together in Ibrim (Hebrews) 10:25 Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging, and
so much more as you see the Day coming near.
In the preceding verse,
24, we see the purpose of assembling ourselves: And let us be concerned
for one another in order to stir up love and good works.
The Shabbat is the most
direct route to connect with Abba Yahweh and commune with Him. When we assemble
together on any given Shabbat, we garner a collective power to connect with
Yahweh, one that is mutually beneficial to all. In other words, we serve to
strengthen one another and bolster each others' spiritual resolve.
A final consideration
is that once assembled, the heart of the people was moved to contribute what was
necessary to construct the Tabernacle. Giving and sharing always brings more
into our lives.
Now let us move on to
Pekudei.
Shemoth 38:21
These were the
appointments of the Dwelling Place, the Dwelling place of the Witness, which was
appointed by the command of Mosheh, for the service of the Levites, by the hand
of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.
22 And Betsalel son of Uri, son
of Hut of the tribe of Yehudah, made all that YHWH had commanded Mosheh.
In
the verses that follow we read something akin to an inventory list of amounts of
materials that were used in constructing the Tabernacle and all its furnishings
and implements, including priestly clothing. (Please continue reading through to
the end of the chapter, verse 43).
We
notice that not only is there a strict accounting of all donated materials, but
we may also note that regardless of how simple, or how elaborate, every item is
made to an exacting detail. All specifications are followed, paying strict
attention to exacting measurements and shapes. No shortcuts or deviations are
taken. Yahweh's instructions are carried out in minute detail. Are we as
meticulous in our own personal carrying out of the commands found in
Yahweh's
Torah?
We
must also consider that all materials were given as free will offerings. While
that was a wondrous and generous thing, we must understand that even the richest
of materials are useless without the skill to put them into right use. Each
separate unit became part of a whole. Yahweh's commands were given directly to
Mosheh and then relayed to Ithamar, then to Betsalel. Here we see a chain, not
necessarily a chain of command, but a chain of continuance and cooperation for
the ultimate benefit of all.
40:1 And
YHWH spoke to Mosheh saying,
2 On the
first day of the first month, you are to raise up the Dwelling Place of the Tent
of Meeting,
3 and
shall put in it the Ark of the Witness, and screen the Ark with the
veil.
Once all the work was completed it was brought to Mosheh for a final
inspection. Under Mosheh's direction, the Tabernacle was erected and each item
was set in its own special place. Again, all the separate elements were joined
together.
Under the command of Yahweh, the
Tabernacle was erected on a Rosh Chodesh a New Moon day. Once all was
dedicated and consecrated, and once the people had prepared themselves, we read
in verse 34: And the cloud covered the Tent of
Meeting, and the esteem (glory) of YHWH filled the dwelling place.
It
is no coincidence that as we read this portion on this Shabbat, we are also at a
Rosh Chodesh the New Moon of Nisan (Aviv). The Rosh Chodesh Nisan, 5770, is
March 15. Let us prepare to commemorate the Rosh Chodesh so that his month will
be a month of blessing to Kol Yisrael.
Despite the overwhelming and awe inspiring sight of the cloud and fire
that appeared that day, and also accompanied and led Yisrael through all their
journeys, it still took them the remainer of the 40 years to reach the Promised
Land.
We must read the book of
Shemoth not merely as a story or historical account, but as a revelation of
human condition. It seems that the ancient Yisraelites could not fully
appreciate or take advantage of the great miracle of the majestic appearance of
the Glory of Yahweh (Kavod
Yahweh). While
they were freed from the physical bondage of Mitsrayim (Egypt) they were still
in psychological bondage to their own yetzer harah their own egos and the desire to receive for self
alone. There is no doubt that while the theme of unity was reflected in the
constructing and assembling of the tabernacle, unity of spiritual purpose was
lacking among the people.
It is a custom that when a
book of Torah is completed, as we will have done this Shabbat, the word chazak
meaning strengthened, is repeated three times in the blessing:
Chazek, chazek, v'nit
chazek
(Be strong, be strong, and may we be
strengthened). The
numerical value of chazek is equal to the letters Mem,
Hey and Sheen, the
fifth of the 72 Names (attributes) and the attribute of
healing.
On Shabbat Day, and coming
Rosh Chodesh, may our prayer be the words of Malaki 4:2 But to you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise
with healing in His wings...
As
we seek to serve Almighty Yahweh and learn more of His ways, may we all be
blessed with His gift of spiritual healing, and may it serve to enlighten our
eyes, restore our hearing, soften our hearts, and fill us with a mutual love of
the brethren.
A
blessed Rosh Chodesh to all as we commemorate Rosh Chodesh Nisan
(Aviv).
To
those in our local area please remember that we will gather for Yahweh's
Commanded Pesach observance with a Seder on the evening of March 29. The day of
March 30 is the first High Day of Chag Hamatzah (Feast of Unleavened Bread). To
make reservations for the Seder please contact us by e-mail or write:
Congregation B'nai Yeshurun, 210 Garretts Run Road, Kittanning, PA 16201.
Please tune into our weekly Pal Talk Bible studies at 8 p.m. Erev
Shabbat (Friday evening) and again at 1 p.m. Shabbat afternoon. Once in Pal
Talk go to Religion and Spirituality, then click on
Christianity. Our room is B'nai Yeshurun.
After some consideration, I believe it may be in our best interests to
place our room under the designation of Other rather than
christianity. We will have to find a way to do this. When we are ready
to make the change we will send ample notice.
Again, may Almighty Yahweh bless us all, b'Shem Yahshua Meshikaynu, as we
seek to serve Him and learn more of His ways.
PS: While we appreciate all correspondence
and while we do not shirk from controversy, we must insist that all
correspondence be signed by the sender and indicate a way to contact the sender.
Anonymous letters, especially those that make accusations against others in the
Nazarene Yisrael movement, or any organization, are not the way for righteous
people to convey their sentiments. Let's have the intestinal fortitude to sign
our name(s) to any and all correspondence. A workman rightly dividing the
truth need not be ashamed.
Questions or comments
regarding this week's commentary may be directed to Rabbi Mitchell by e-mail at:
yoel@windstream.net
(archive
rss
,
atom
)
E-Letter with teachings from the leaders of the UONYC.
Subscribe to UONYC Teaching Letter:
Powered by Dada Mail 2.9.2
Copyright © 1999-2005, Simoni Creative.