Parshah of the Week
Parshah Pekudei – Adar II 6, 5784/ March 16, 2024
This aliyah gives an exact accounting of the amounts of gold, silver and copper donated for the construction of the Tabernacle, as well as the vessels and building materials constructed with these supplies.
The high priest‘s ephod — a reversed apron which covered the back — and its precious-stone-studded shoulder straps were made. The High Priest’s Choshen Mishpat (“Breastplate of Judgment”) was assembled. It contained four rows of precious stones, each row containing three stones. Artisans engraved the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel upon these twelve stones. The Choshen Misphat was then secured by straps which connected it to the ephod.
The rest of the priestly garments were completed: The high priest’s me’il (blue robe adorned with golden bells and cloth “pomegranates”) and tzitz (a golden band worn on the forehead, which was engraved with the words “Holy to God”); and the four garments worn by both the high priest and the regular priests: tunics, turbans, sashes and pants. With this, the construction of the Tabernacle and all its vessels and accoutrement were finished.
The craftspeople brought their finished products to Moses. Moses saw that all the work had been done exactly to God’s specifications, and he blessed the workers.
God instructed Moses to erect the Tabernacle on the first of Nissan. God also instructed Moses to place all the Tabernacle’s vessels in their proper places, and to anoint all of the items with the anointing oil, thus sanctifying them. Moses is also directed to dress Aaron and his sons in the priestly garments, and to anoint them, too.
This aliyah describes Moses’ fulfillment of the abovementioned directives.
Moses completed the proper placement of the Tabernacle vessels. When Moses finished this task a Cloud of Glory and the Divine Presence filled the Tabernacle. This cloud also served as the Jews’ guide throughout their desert sojourn: when the cloud lifted, the people would travel, following the cloud until it rested, where they would set up camp until the cloud would lift again.
Lectura de la Torá:
Moshe hace un recuento del oro, plata y cobre donado por el pueblo para la construcción del Mishkán – Tabernáculo. Betzalel, Ahaliav y sus asistentes confeccionan las Ocho Vestimentas Sacerdotales – la túnica larga de lino, los pantalones de lino, el turbante de lino, el cinturón, el delantal de lana, la placa del pecho, la túnica de lana y la placa de oro para la frente, de acuerdo a las especificaciones dadas a Moshe en la parashá Tetzavé.
El Mishkán es completado junto a todos sus componentes y traído frente a Moshe, quien lo erige y unge con Aceite de Unción e inicia a Aarón junto a sus cuatro hijos en el sacerdocio. Una nube aparece sobre el Mishkán, significando que la Presencia Divina vino a morar dentro de él.
La onceava y última sección del libro de Éxodo comienza informándonos a quien Moisés había designado (Pekudei en Hebreo) para ocuparse del funcionamiento y transporte del Tabernáculo. Habiendo concluido el relato de cómo los artesanos hicieron los diversos componentes del Tabernáculo, la Torá procede a describir cómo esos mismos artesanos hicieron las vestimentas sacerdotales y cómo finalmente fue erigido el Tabernáculo.