Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

Download print

Parashat Vayakhel- Show the Kids

The Torah in Parashat Vayakhel relates how Beneh Yisrael responded enthusiastically to Moshe’s call for donations to the Mishkan. The people generously donated all the materials that were needed for the Mishkan’s construction, which included precious metals, animal skins, wool, dyes, and much more. The Torah writes, "Every man and woman whose heart stirred them to bring [materials] for all the work that God commanded through Moshe to be done – Beneh Yisrael brought a donation to God" (35:29).

Many commentators have noted that this verse appears, at first glance, redundant. It seems unnecessary for the Torah to inform us that all the people who were inspired to bring donations indeed brought donations. Isn’t this obvious? What purpose was there for the Torah to make such a self-evident statement?

Many different interpretations have been offered to explain the meaning and intent of this verse. The Hid"a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1807) suggested that the Torah refers to the people’s faithful fulfillment of their pledges. As we unfortunately know all too well, people often feel inspired when they hear an appeal and make a generous pledge, but later have second thoughts and renege on their commitments. Many of our institutions are owed enormous sums of money in unpaid pledges. This is a most unfortunate reality, and is also very frightening, in light of our Sages’ stern warnings of the potential consequences, Heaven forbid, of failing to fulfill vows. The Torah here emphasizes that "every man and woman whose heart stirred them" – who felt inspired and made a commitment to donate – "brought a donation to God." They not only pledged, but they also fulfilled those pledges in full.

Another approach is to explain the verse as referring to the children. The Torah tells us that the people who made donations toward the Mishkan "Hebi’u Beneh Yisrael" – they brought the children, the youngsters, to watch. They didn’t leave the children at home and tell them to wait there while they went out. Rather, they took the children along to get them involved and to have them personally witness what was happening.

The most important aspect of parenting is modeling desired behavior. We send our children to school for twelve years and speak to them about Misvot, but these will not be effective unless we set a personal example for our children to follow. It is thus crucially important to make sure that our children see us perform Misvot. If a mother is baking in the kitchen, for example, it is worthwhile for her to call her daughter to the kitchen when she separates Halla. Seeing the Misva performed has a much stronger impact that just hearing about it. If we want our children to embrace our Torah values and lifestyle, then we must show them how it’s done. Just as Beneh Yisrael brought their children to see them donate their precious possessions to the Mishkan, we, too, must make a proactive effort to involve our children in the Misvot that we do, setting for them an inspiring example that they will hopefully follow for the rest of their lives – and that they will set for their own children, and so on, for all generations.


Related Parasha
Parashat Pekudeh- Counting the Things That Matter - 2023 Year
Parashat Pekudeh: Empowering the Spirit to Subdue the Body - 2022 Year
Parashat Vayakhel: The Precious Value of a Torah Home - 2022 Year
Parashat Vayakhel: The Satan’s Weekly Visit - 2021 Year
Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudeh: G-d’s Love for the Jewish People - 2020 Year
Parashat Pekudei: The Scholars of Torah & the Supporters of Torah - 2019 Year
Parashat Vayakhel: Rebuilding the World - 2019 Year
Parashat Vayakhel: The Definition of a Misva - 2018 Year
Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudeh: The Foundation - 2017 Year
Parashat Vayakhel: The Merit of the Righteous Women - 2015 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Vayakhel - 2011 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Pekudei / Shekalim - 2011 Year
Parashat Vayakhel- “They Left From Moshe’s Presence” - 2011 Year
Shabbat Morning Class - Parasha Vayakhel/Pekudei - Pesah - 2010 Year
Sefer/Parasha:
Parashat Balak: The Story of Bilam as a Lesson in Emuna
Parashat Hukat: Avoiding Conflict – the Ultimate Good
Parashat Korah: Elevating Ourselves
Parashat Shelah- The Spiritual Mission of Yehoshua’s Spies
Parashat Behaalotecha: Remaining Loyal to Tradition
Parashat Naso: Learning From Our Forebears
Shabuot: Completing Our Celebration of the Exodus
Parashat Behukotai: Living Without Worry
Parashat Behar: Unquestioning Compliance
Parashat Emor- Turning Ourselves Into Sapphire
Kedoshim- The Reward for Honoring Parents
Parashat Ahareh Mot- Feeling Hashem’s Presence
Shevi'i Shel Pesah- Achieving True Freedom
Pesah: Remembering the Root Cause of the Egyptian Exile
Shabbat HaGadol: The Power of Mesirut Nefesh
1002 Parashot found