Parshat Vayakhel
Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels
Our parashah, Vayakhel, describes not only
Moses' call for donations to the construction of the Tabernacle, the mishkan, but also the community's generous response. What is the role of themishkan in the lives of the Israelites that caused them to respond so generously?
The mishkan, literally "dwelling-place," is the place where God and Israel meet. It is here that God's divine presence, the Shekhinah (from the same root as mishkan), dwells in the midst of Israel. It is the means by which God becomes present in the very center of the Israelite community and in the hearts of the Israelites.
God instructs (Exodus 25:8): "let them make me a mishkan and I will dwell (shakhanti) within them (betokham)." The Sefat Emet, a Polish Hasidic master, reads this as "within them truly" (betokham mamash). That is, God will dwell within the very essence of each Israelite.
Prior to the mishkan, the Israelites' relationship with the divine was with the transcendent, miraculous God of the splitting of the Red Sea and the revelation at Sinai. At Sinai, the people trembled in fear at the awesome revelation of the divine and retreated from a direct personal encounter (Exodus 19:16, 20:15-18).
Intimacy & Eroticism
It is only through the mishkan, the earthly dwelling-place of God, that a more intimate encounter becomes possible. Indeed, the mishkan is not just any meeting place, but, as both the midrash and Kabbalistic literature make clear, a place of great intimacy, the bridal chamber of God and Israel, where the truest level of intimacy can manifest after the marriage at Mount. Sinai (See the opening of Pesikta de-Rav Kahana and Zohar II 179b, I 239a).
The intimate erotic nature of the mishkan can be seen in the beautiful fabrics and the fine metals which are the adornments of the Shekhinah, the divine bride, and the hangings of Her wedding chamber (Exodus 35:5-8). Similarly, the cherubim in the mishkan, who face each other with outspread wings, are, we are told in the Talmud, in fact intertwined in an erotic embrace (Yoma 54a), and erotic significance is given to other verses and gifts.
Finally, following the midrash, we can see the similarity between the word for "completing" (vayakhelor kalot) the mishkan and the word for "bride" (kalah), an indication that the completion of themishkan was also the consummation of this divine-human marriage.
The Generous of Heart
In the process of constructing the mishkan, then, God is transformed from the awesome divine Other, unapproachable and incomprehensible, to the intimate divine Beloved, present in the midst of Israel. It is the act of generosity, the very process of giving, that actualizes the opening of the heart that in turn makes intimacy possible.
Again and again in the parashah we are told of the generous of heart and noble of spirit who contributed to the mishkan. This is a generosity not only of possessions, but one that reaches even deeper, as we are told, "take from yourselves an offering to God, all the generous of heart (Exodus 35:5)."
That is, a literal taking from yourselves, your experience, your wisdom and particularity, and offering it to the Beloved. Before, alienated by God's distance at the peak of Mount Sinai, the people could only express their generosity to the illusion of divinity in the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:3). Now, inviting God into their midst, the natural generosity of intimacy is properly expressed.
To Dwell Among Us
Just as God is ultimately both foreign and intimate, both self and other, so this is true of our fellow human beings. We can experience our fellow humans as alienated, even antagonistic, others, or as intimate beloved companions.
Like the Israelites in the wilderness, alienated by God's otherness, it is often easy to feel disconnected and not responsible for those who are most other, most unlike us. This disconnection is apparent between us and our neighbors in the developing world, who are separated from us by distance, wealth, culture, and politics.
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for additional insights on this week's parsha and others, visit The JTS Torah Commentary archive: http://www.jtsa.edu
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May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
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Shabbat Vayakhel
Friday, February 21st
6 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv,
Chapel
Saturday, February 22nd
9 a.m. Services, Sanctuary
10 a.m. Supervised Youth Activities, Room 3 for ages 12 and under.
Kiddush Lunch is sponsored by the Kiddush Lunch Fund.
All are welcome to attend a Shabbat Shiur today following lunch and prior to Minha, led by Jeff Lasday.
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Click here to help with Kiddush Lunch
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*Kiddush Lunch is available through donations to the Kiddush Lunch Fund, the generosity of weekly sponsors, and volunteer efforts of our congregants and regular attendees. Please e-mail or call the synagogue office if you would like to sponsor a kiddush lunch. To sponsor as part of a "group," please e-mail Joanna Abramson or Mindy Shuback. You may also make a donation to the Kiddush Lunch Fund by clicking here. To sign up to help prepare Kiddush Lunch please use the "volunteer spot" button above.
Purim is just around the corner.
FAMILY NIGHT AT MINYAN, MARCH 9TH, WE WILL BE ASSEMBLING MISHLOACH MANOT FOR SENIORS. CLICK ON THE VOLUNTEER SPOT LINK TO SIGN UP TO ATTEND MINYAN, STAY FOR DINNER AND HELP ASSEMBLE THE PACKAGES.
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Upcoming Youth and Family Activities
FAMILY CAMP 2014 MARCH 21st-23rd
NCJW Annual Jewish Youth Awards
National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit is proud to continue the tradition of honoring exceptional high school students who demonstrate leadership within the Jewish community, and is awarding scholarship money through its annual Jewish Youth Awards. All High School Seniors are invited to apply. 2014 AWARDS: DEADLINE for application submission is Friday, March 7, 2014 at noon. The application form and all supporting documentation must be received at the NCJW/Greater Detroit office, 26400 Lahser Rd., Suite 306, Southfield MI 48033-2675 no later than noon on Friday, March 7, 2014.
Awards totaling $5,800 will be distributed to the finalists at the Awards Ceremony on April 27, 2014.
1st Place: $2500; 2nd Place: $1300; 3rd & 4th Places: $500; and 4 Honorable Mention Prizes of $250. click here for complete award information and application.
NEXT PARENT PLANNING MEETING FOR PURIM CARNIVAL:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH
7:00 P.M. AT B'NAI MOSHE
 J-Serve Service Leadership Immersion February 16-18, 19-21
Don't get stuck over February break when you can spend three unforgettable days living and volunteering in Detroit.
Family Night at Minyan, one Sunday/month.
Bring your family to help make minyan at 5 p.m. and enjoy pizza dinner in the social hall following services. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 3/9 (we will assemble Mishloach Manot for BI seniors), 4/27, 6/1
Click on the Volunteer Spot Link to sign up for March 9th Dinner and minyan, and mishloach manor preparations.
Upcoming Shabbat Youth Activities
SHABBAT CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP DATES for youth ages 7-12. 30 minutes of tefilla and parsha fun.
11-11:45 a.m., ROOM 9
MARCH 1ST, APRIL 5th, MAY 3 (10:30 A.M.)
JUNE 7 YOUTH SHABBAT
SHABBAT TEEN ACTIVITIES 
D'VAR TORAH COCOA CAFE
for ages 13-17,
11:00-11:45 a.m., Social Hall
Listen to the D'var Torah in the main sanctuary, then give your take over cocoa and cider. Kiddush lunch following, with Spirited singing and Birkat Hamazon led by teens.
e-mail teens@bnaiisraelwb.org for more information.
FUTURE DATES:
MARCH 1ST, APRIL 5TH, MAY 3RD
To stay current on all youth and family activities, contact Ilana Glazier to join the B'nai Israel Families Facebook Group.
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Adult Education
"Reflections on the Siddur," with Dr. Mitch Parker
Saturdays, 11-11:45 a.m.
February 22 March 8 and 22
April 12 and 26 May 10 and 24 June 7 and 21
Mitch will focus on Ashrei, Aleinu, the Kaddish, Adon Olam, Yigdal, Hallel and Birkat Hamazon.
Class meets in the lower level, Room 9.
Lunch and Learn Series
with Hillel Buechler, Ramah Fellow 
First Tuesday of every month
Next session: 12:15 p.m., March 4th
Meet at Barnes and Noble on Orchard Lake Road Bring your own lunch. There is no charge to attend. Future Dates: March 4th, Apr8th. Please e-mail Hillel Buechler if you plan to attend.
Shabbat Shiur Series
Shabbat Afternoons, last Saturday of the month following lunch and prior to minha. Shiur (class) will meet in the chapel. All our welcome. There is no charge to attend.
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Mazel Tov

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
20 Colton Graub
22 Seymour Manello
25 Sheila Kurland
25 Sharon Rosen
26 Aaron Orel
FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES
If your birthday or anniversary information is not listed, please email the synagogue so we can update our records.
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Caring Community Information
Refuah Sh'leimah/Wishing a Speedy Recovery.
Please e-mail Michael Golob or call the synagogue: 248-432-2729 to add a name to our communal mishebeirach list.
Shiva assistance: To assist in providing a shiva meal for BI member families and/or if you are able to lead a shiva minyan, please e-mail the synagogue.
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Upcoming TKA/BI Joint Opportunities
 TKA Sisterhood Book Talk and Swap
Sunday, March 2nd, 2 p.m., Social Hall
Connie Silver to lead conversation on Great Reads from 2013 and will suggest what to read next. Take books home to read - swap ones you enjoyed. Please bring up to 5 books to swap for others you might enjoy. Everyone welcome. rsvp to tkasisterhood@hotmail.com or call Connie: 248-851-2149.
SOUTH OAKLAND SHELTER
HOUSING OF GUESTS AT TKA/BI, 
MARCH 23-30, 2014
TKA will once again be housing guests for one week from South Oakland Shelter. There are many ways to get involved and help. Everyone's help is needed! Chuck Seigerman and Steve Dines are the BI point people for this. Click here to sign up online or e-mail Steve or Chuck with any questions.
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Click here to assist with 3/27 Dinner
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Click here to assist with 3/25 Dinner
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B'nai Israel Synagogue is affiliated with USCJ, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
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