Vayak'heil / P'kudei
All whose hearts moved themAll who were skilled - with "wise hearts"All built the Mishkan
Exodus 35:5Everyone whose heart so moves them shall bring gifts for GodExodus 35:10Let all among you who are skilled come and make all the God has commandedThe Hebrew word לב (lev = heart) is used 14 times in Vaya'kheil, the first of this week's double portion. Seven times related to gifts brought for the Mishkan (as in verse 5 above), and seven times about the actual work done to build the Mishkan (as in verse 10 above)Verse 5: כל נדיב לבו (kol n'div libo) - all those with generous hearts.Verse 10: כל חכם לב (kol chacham lev) - all those with wise heartsFor donors and for builders and for artists, for all who contribute in any way to the creation of a holy space, the effort should come from the heart.With the reading of this week's double portion, we complete the book of Exodus. So we say:
חזק חזק ונתחזק - Chazak, chazak v'nitchzek
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