Weekly Parsha

Refuah Sheimah: "May it be Your will, LORD my G-d, and the G-d of my forefathers, that You quickly send refuah sh'lemah (complete healing) from heaven, spiritual healing and physical healing to Aryeh ben Leah, Esther bat Simcha and Stuart Holtzclaw from Syracuse, NY.

Continue praying for: Teddy Welz, Miriam (Mariana) "bat Zulay", Adina (Heidi) "bat Sarah" e Yosefa (Josie) "bat Sharon", Rafael ben Gladis e Esther Bracha "bat Sarah".

Vaiakhel

Exodus 35:1 - 38:20

Moshe relays the Almighty's commands to refrain from building the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) 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!

"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.

Moses commanded the Jewish people regarding the materials for the Tabernacle:

"Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring an offering of the Almighty" (Exodus 35:5).

What lesson do we learn from the command being directed to those who have a "willing heart"?

Rabbi Simcha Zissel of Kelm explains that those who brought the offerings for the Tabernacle should bring their hearts with their offering. It is not sufficient just to give a monetary donation. The Almighty wants our hearts, that is our thoughts and our emotions.

When you just give money to a charity or worthy institution, you help the cause for which you are giving. However, when you give with your heart, you are changing and elevating yourself as a person. Each donation makes you into a more giving person. Whenever you give, reflect before you give and then give with a full heart!

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it enlarges the future!

It is never too soon to be kind, for we never know how soon it will be too late!

No matter where you are...Be happy, enjoy Shabbat with family and friends!

Shabbat Shalom!

R. Ovadiah Tank

Online Learning 

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.

Ask Rabbi Tank