A sense of excitement pervades this week’s Parshah. This may seem a strange idea as the Parshah seems to repeat much of what has gone before. Still more design instructions for the Tabernacle. The excitement is not in the fact that week read from three Sifrei Torah; though that is in itself special. The excitement lies in the tenor of the text itself. The detailing of each stage in the erection of the Tabernacle until it reaches its crescendo in the last verses. The Tabernacle has been completed as G-d commanded and now the Divine Presence fills the Tent; so that even Moses cannot enter. The great project is completed; the project that has at its heart the indwelling of G-d among the Jewish people. It is this spiritual excitement that we sense as we read this week’s Parshah. This excitement and commitment was institutionalised by the giving of the half-shekel that we commemorate this week. That money was used for the daily sacrifices; thus connecting the whole people with the ongoing service of G-d in the Tabernacle they had created for His dwelling. It is this sense of spiritual excitement, of the desire and possibility of experiencing G-d; that is so lacking from our synagogues today. It is this gaping hole at the very heart of our communities that is the cause of so much of the apathy and cynicism that seems to bedevil British Jewry.  When synagogues become mere venues for social interaction they have lost their primary purpose. When people run away after kiddush so that, G-d forbid, they won’t be asked to stay for Minchah; something is seriously wrong. A real and urgent question must be asked about the future viability of places of worship where people come to do everything and anything; except worship. We need reintroduce spiritual excitement into our synagogues. We need to look at how we can make our services relevant and inclusive. We need to educate our members about the spiritual nature of Jewish ritual. There are synagogues, even in this country, where the excitement we find in the Parshah is present. Where people come to shule to find G-d. If our communities are to have a future we must no longer shirk this challenge. It can be done. It must be done

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS 

Rishon              The donation of silver to the sanctuary.

Sheni                The making of the priestly clothing: the ephod and the breastplate

Shelishi             The robe, the trousers and the tunics.

Revi’i              The the completed tabernacle is presented to Moses.

Chamishi         The instructions for setting up the Tabernacle.

Shishi              The Tabernacle is erected and G-d’s Presence dwells within it.

Shevi’i             The Rosh Hodesh offering.

Maftir             The mitzvah to donate Shekalim to the Sanctuary.

Haftorah         II Kings: 12;1-17: Jehoash  repairs the Temple.

 

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Pekude

·                     has 112 verses;

·                     is the  11th  in Exodus,  23rd  in the Torah

·                     7th  longest in Exodus,  24th  longest  in the Torah  

·                      has no  mitzvot.

WEEKLY HALAKHA

 When reading from three Torah Scrolls kaddish is said after the second one.