Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 2 Adar II, 5784
Parsha Pekudei: (Exodus 38:21 – 40:38)
Third Portion: Exodus 39:22 – 39:32

Good morning! As we continue to explore this final Parsha of Exodus, the idea of exploring our “accounts” seems interesting to me. What are the “accounts” we’ve built up in our lives? How has our family been a protection for us? A weight? Yesterday, we explored fully how the tribes of Israel were a weight worn on the shoulders of the priest AND AT THE SAME TIME were a protection on the breastplate. Today, we are going to go more within. Let’s dig in:

22And he made the robe of the ephod, the work of a weaver, completely of blue wool.

23And the opening of the robe was turned inward like the opening of a coat of armor; its opening had a border around it so that it should not be torn.

24And they made on the bottom hem of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson wool, twisted.

25And they made bells of pure gold, and they placed the bells in the midst of the pomegranates all around on the bottom hem of the robe, in the midst of the pomegranates.

26A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around on the bottom hem of the robe, to serve as the Lord had commanded Moses.

So this is interesting, isn’t it? The robe of the ephod – was a coat of armor.  It is as if we are looking within at spiritual armor. And the robe was “turned inward.” So family is a weight and protection – and – we must also look within for the idea of who we are.  We are also meant to protect ourselves – we are a coat of armor.

And. We get the sense of sound.  The apron covered the robe. And there were bells on the bottom of the robe -it made noises when the Priest walked.  What is the sound we make? Is it a sweet sound when we navigate the world? A sound of harmony?

And. I imagine – even if we are creating a sound of harmony? For those who are afraid, the sound is fear. If I don’t want your sweetness because I am stuck in my own misery? Our sweet sound may cause conflict and people to run away. I just imagine someone with a ton of guilt hearing a priest’s bells, and feeling a twinge of fear.

Let’s keep going:

27And they made the linen tunics, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and for his sons,

28and the cap of linen, and the glorious high hats of linen, and the linen pants of twisted fine linen,

29and the sash of twisted fine linen, and blue, purple, and crimson wool, of embroidery work as the Lord had commanded Moses.

So these are the clothes the Priests wore. They were royal. Majestic. How often do we present ourselves as majestic to the world?

Finally:

30And they made the showplate, the holy crown, of pure gold, and they inscribed upon it an inscription like the engravings of a seal: “Holy to the Lord.”

31And they placed upon it a cord of blue wool to place over the cap, from above as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The last thing made was the crown. The holy crown. And it was inscribed with “Holy to the Lord.”

Do we see ourselves inscribed with this crown? Do we see ourselves as “Holy to the Lord?” Why or why not?

And this is what brings us to the final verse of today’s portion:

32All the work of the Mishkan of the Tent of Meeting was completed; the children of Israel had done [it]; according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so they had done.

Here’s what I notice here. All along, the Torah talks about the “work of a master weaver.” This refers to Bezalel.  He gets a TON of credit – and – in the end? The Torah gives credit to the entire family – the children of Israel had done it.

Those are my thoughts – what are yours?

Here are my thoughts from two years ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 28 Adar I, 5782

Todays portion of Pekudei goes underneath.

Yesterday we talked about the outside of the priestly garments; the apron and the breastplate.

Today, we look at the robe worn under the apron- made entirely of turquoise wool.

Normally, I would think we should start from the inside and work our way out; in a sense walking through the process of getting dressed. But the Torah has a different picture. We started with the apron worn underneath the breastplate.

As I’m reflecting I wonder if those two garments are meant to protect us from the external. The apron would have protected us from the blood being spilled.

Now, I wonder if looking at the robe that goes under the apron, we are beginning to explore protection from internal forces. Just a thought as we dig in.

The robe was under the apron. The Torah mentions the collar and it mentions it was hemmed inside like the collar of a coat of armor. Interesting.

The next interesting thing are the bells. At the bottom of the robe were bells and pomegranate shapes. They were patterned one after the other; bell, pomegranate, bell, pomegranate, etc.

So when the priest walked, you would hear him coming. And when he was in the holy of holies you could hear him moving and performing his work.

Next we move to the checkered tunic; then the turban, then the pants, then the sash.

Finally, we go to the forehead plate than went over the turban. Fastened with a ribbon of turquoise. It was engraved with the words “Holy to God.”

Imagine being labeled by Hashem as being Holy? That seems so far away to me. Yet, humans were holy to Him.

Todays portion closes with the work of a he tabernacle being complete. The Torah says “the children of Israel did everything that God commanded Moses. They did it correctly.”

Now they hadn’t constructed it yet; and tomorrows portion is going to give us some really interesting things to think about. Spoiler alert: they did EVERYTHING God commanded Moses, they did it correctly, and STILL it’s not going to work.

Tune in tomorrow to find out what happens.

What are your thoughts on today’s portion?