This week we read the double parashah of Vayakhel and Pekudei, which conclude the book of Exodus. After the turmoil of the golden calf in Ki Tisa, the Torah turns toward rebuilding. Moses gathers the people and calls upon them to contribute toward the construction of the Mishkan, the sanctuary that would accompany Israel through the wilderness.
The word Vayakhel means “he assembled.” The Torah begins not with materials or architecture but with people coming together. The Mishkan was not built by a single leader or a small group of specialists alone. Every person had a role. Some brought gold or silver, others spun fabric, others offered their skill and labour. The sanctuary emerged from the willingness of individuals to give what they could.
The sages in the Talmud notice something remarkable about this moment. The people gave so generously that Moses eventually had to tell them to stop bringing contributions because there was already more than enough. After the failure of the golden calf, the people were eager to direct their energy toward something constructive. Where there had once been confusion, there was now purpose.
The second portion, Pekudei, records the careful accounting of everything that had been donated and used in the building of the sanctuary. Nothing was hidden and nothing was vague. The Torah emphasises transparency and responsibility, reminding us that sacred work must also be carried out with integrity.
These lessons feel especially relevant to the life of our own community. Like the Mishkan in the wilderness, Kehillat Or Tzion is something we are building together. It does not exist because of one individual or a small group alone. It exists because members of the community contribute their time, their ideas, their support, and their presence.
Every service attended, every act of volunteering, every contribution that helps sustain the community is part of that same spirit described in the Torah. The Mishkan was built from many small offerings that together created something holy. In much the same way, a community grows through the combined efforts of those who believe in its future.
We also see this principle reflected more broadly in the resilience of the Jewish people and in the strength of the State of Israel, where communities continue to rebuild, support one another, and reaffirm their shared purpose even in difficult times.
As the book of Exodus comes to a close, the Torah offers a lasting message. Holiness is not created in isolation. It is created when people gather with intention and contribute what they can toward something greater than themselves. Vayakhel and Pekudei remind us that a sanctuary is not only a physical structure. It is the result of a community choosing to build together. In our own time, that same choice continues to shape the future of Kehillat Or Tzion.