Pekude; Exodus 38:21-40:37 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This portion, the final in the book of Exodus, begins with an inventory of the materials and specifically the metals utilized in the Tabernacle. If we add up the amounts stated in the portion, there is an impressive amount of metals used. The gold, silver, brass or copper was a lot for a group that had been enslaved in Egypt. This shows how important the centrality of the Tabernacle was to the Israelites. They lavished the most precious of gifts upon God’s home in the desert as a tribute to the covenant that they had made at Mt. Sinai. The account continues with the description the priests’ vestments, and the other priestly accoutrements such as the ephod, breastplate, and crown made of gold and inscribed Holy To Adonai.

From verse 33-42 is a repeat of that found in Chapter 35 beginning in verse 10. All of the various pieces of the tabernacle are finished and brought before Moses. When the work is completed Moses offers the craftsmen and workers a blessing. While we do not have the words of the blessing recorded in the portion, tradition teaches (Rashi, and in Baba Bathra 14b) that Moses composed Psalm 90 for the occasion. Psalm 90 refers to the fragility of human life and Moses asks God to help humanity use our time productively. The Psalm, often read at a funeral, reminds us all to, “number our days so that we shall receive a heart of wisdom.” It concludes with the line, “ May the graciousness of Adonai our God, be upon us; You establish also upon us the work of our hands; Yea, the work of our hands establish it.”

If indeed this is the blessing given by Moses to the artisans and craftspeople, we can see that this blessing is a reminder to those involved in such holy work, that it was not their own genius or gifts alone that built the Tabernacle—but only with the inspiration and direction of God did such handiwork come to fruition.

The portion concludes with setting up of the Tabernacle and its dedication in the first month of the second year on the first day of the month. This would be a way to dedicate the tabernacle on Rosh Hashanah, the day of creation of the world and now a creation of the world in miniature through the erection of the holy precincts of the tabernacle. The verses record that Moses one the one who did the actual finishing touches of putting the tabernacle together and placing both sets of the Ten Commandments in ark, the broken pieces of the first set as well as the second intact set.

Finally the text concludes that God’s cloud of Glory descended upon the entire Sanctuary in the desert. For the tabernacle is just a tent until God takes up residence. And as the words of Exodus ends, God’s holy presence is secure among the Israelites, dwelling in their midst throughout their journey. As the closing words states, “For the could of Adonai was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”

The Children of Israel were able to tell when God’s Divine Presence was in their midst. But for us today, it is not always so easy. We have no Temple in Jerusalem that became the permanent home after the tabernacle in the desert. Our challenge is utilizing, prayer, and ritual, study and social justice to bring God’s holy presence into our lives. We do that in our communities, in our synagogues in relationship to one another. We Jews can’t be disconnected from each other—for when we are we cannot connect to that Divine presence. When we isolate from one another, or run away from our Jewish self—we only run further from God’s Divine Presence. The challenge in our times is to continue to seek out God’s Divine Presence and to create those moments for God’s cloud of Glory to dwell once again in our midst. Are we up to the challenge?

Posted by Lee at March 8, 2005 10:46 AM