Parsha

Refuah Sheimah: Nahum HaLevi ben Bracha, Chaim Moshe ben Esther, Yehuda Baruch ben Sarah, Stephen Waczkiewicz (Shimon ben Sarah), Yossefa (Josie) "bat Sharon", Rafael ben Gladis e Esther Bracha "bat Sarah".

Continue praying for: Teddy Welz, Miriam (Mariana) "bat Zulay", Adina (Heidi) "bat Sarah" e Yosefa (Josie) "bat Sharon"

Pray for the  "Refuah Shleima"  (rapid recovery) of "  our community" . May G-d deliver us from this crisis quickly and grant a full recovery to those who are sick, Amen!

Vayachel

Exodus 35:1 - 40:38

Moshe relays the Almighty's commands to refrain from building the Mishkan (the Tabernacle or Portable Sanctuary) on the Shabbat, to contribute items needed to build the Mishkan, to construct the components of the Mishkan and the appurtenances of the Cohanim. The craftsmen are selected, the work begins. The craftsmen report that there are too many donations, and for the first and probably the only time in fundraising history, the Jewish people are told to refrain from bringing additional contributions!

After being told to anoint his brother Aharon (Aaron), Moshe was told in reference to Aharon's sons:

"And you shall anoint them as you anointed their father" (Exodus 40:15).

Why did the Almighty give Moses this special instruction?

When Moses was told to anoint his brother Aaron, he was able to do it with a complete heart. Moses, the younger brother, was the leader of the Israelites and was happy that his brother was the High Priest. However, in reference to Aaron's sons, the situation was different. Moses' own sons were not going to succeed him as leaders. So, when it came to anointing Aaron's sons, Moses might have felt envy. Therefore, the Almighty told Moses to anoint Aaron's sons with the same whole heartedness and joy with which he anointed their father.

Our lesson: If even a person as great as Moses needs to internalize attitudes to avoid envy, all the more so do we! Also, it IS possible to feel joy and enthusiasm for another person's success even if he has something that you do not.

"Every wise-hearted person amongst you shall come and make everything that the Almighty has commanded." Later the Torah continues "and each person whose heart motivated him came" (Exodus, 35:21).

Why is it necessary for the Torah to tell us that their hearts motivated them?

The Ramban -- Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, a brilliant 13th century Spanish commentator -- explains that they needed motivation from their hearts because there was no one who had any previous experience with the skills necessary for constructing the Tabernacle. There were no teachers available to train them. But there were people who had the courage to come before Moshe to tell him, "I will do all that you say."

Our lesson: to succeed in life we must have the courage to take initiative. Many people have goals. Only those who take initiative succeed.

Success is when preparation meets opportunity! And the formula is Teshuvah + Tefilah + Tzedakah.

This is why the practicing Orthodox Jew turns to the throne of King David (promises), to the city of Jerusalem (Israel) and makes Teshuvah (Repentance) through his tefillah (Prayer) and then proves himself to the Eternal Holy D-us and Blessed be He, through acts of righteousness (Tzedakah), so this person is now a righteous person (Tzadik), and can then participate again in the selection of a holy people chosen by G-d, a people chosen with the responsibility to be a light to the world and an example of a good human being to the nations!

Shabbat Shalom,

R. Ovadiah Tank

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Rabbi Tank is a professor at the American Jewish College in New York, where he teaches classes on Talmud, Jewish History, and Contemporary Jewish Law. Rabbi Tank is dedicated to finding modern utility and meaning in ancient wisdom texts and is pleased to provide spiritual, cultural, social and educational programming to communities around the world. 

Rabbi Tank was educated at Yeshivas in New York and Miami. He studied Biblical Archeology at Bar Ilan University and Jewish Studies at Harvard University. Rabbi Tank has a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and he is also graduated in International Economic Development from the University of Oxford. 

Rabbi Tank is actively involved in peace negotiations and relief operations. Rabbi Tank is the director of international affairs at the World Jewish Confederation in the United States and He is member of the White House National Religious Leaders , an Executive Office of the President of the United States in Washington, D.C.