Vayakel Pekudi

Few times throughout the Jews’ journeys in the desert does Moshe Rabbenu gather the people to speak with them. We must therefore consider the purpose of such events each time they occur. Rav Aharon Lichtenstein proposes that each time such a gathering occurred it a momentous occasion where Moshe gathered the people to prepare them to look towards the future; twice in Devarim as Moshe prepared to depart his flock and once in פרשת קדושים where the message of the unique spiritual role of the Jewish people was underscored. In this week’s parsha we have a similar gathering whose purpose is unclear.

The Ibn Ezra argues that the gathering of the people was simply to inform them of the upcoming need to raise funds for the building of the Mishkan. While consistent with the theme of these gatherings taking place for forward thinking events, the significance of this meeting seems pale in comparison to those described above. Here, they were only attempting to collect money, hardly an event that seems worthy of a gathering that has otherwise been used to tell the Jewish people of their unique position as they enter their Holy Land.

Conversely, the Ramban argues that this purpose of this gathering was a response to the חטא העגל. They Jewish people had just suffered the consequences of their terrible sin and so they required a gathering to affirm their commitment to each other and God. While momentous, this explanation is also different than all the other gatherings. As opposed to looking to the future, this gathering is a response to the past. Moreover, this explanation assumes that the Mishkan was not an ideal but a response to the חטא העגל, only because the Jews sinned do they now need to build a Mishkan.

I would like to propose an alternative understanding. Both the Ramban and the Ibn Ezra are correct. This gathering was an opportunity to reflect on the past and to look towards the future. For the past six months, the Jews have wandered the desert, received water from a miraculous source and received the Torah at Har Sinai. However, they have only had a loosely defined way to demonstrate their religious experience. Only now as Moshe informs the Jewish people of the intricate and incredibly specific rules governing the Mishkan and setting the stage for bringing Karbanot is the method through which the Jews are to experience their religion defined. That is why there was a need for a gathering. The Mishkan, an ideal method through which the Jews will serve God, is now being introduced.

We too now stand at such a moment. For the past six months we’ve had numerous mini Har Sinai’s. We introduced numerous Shiurim and the learning opportunities at the shul have exponentially increased. We even had miraculous sources of water as our kitchen flooded and no one can determine the source of the leak. But now we stand at a moment where we will determine our relationship moving forward. Until this point, it was unclear where I would match for residency and there was a shadow of a possibility of due to geographical constraints my not being able to continue serving the shul while pursuing my medical career. However, this past week in unforeseen circumstances, an exciting opportunity arose that allowed me to not only continue my research interests but also have the opportunity to get excellent clinical training at Montefiore, a mere twenty minute drive from here. To be clear, this opportunity would allow me to continue my rabbinic responsibilities to our shul and ensure that for the foreseeable future I remain here in Fleetwood. And, yes, there may be some hurdles along the way as we work together to determine how much additional rabbinic coverage is needed but overall this presents us a wonderful opportunity to ensure we continue growing together as a community.