13 Mar Vayekhel – Pekudei; The Juxtaposition of Profound Emptiness

The void created by the observance of the the Sabbath was all encompassing only to be shattered by the light of the stars. Shabbos is a time to be nullified- bitul, and be spiritually fullfiled.

 

When there was Shabbos In the desert there was no central heating, central air, stoves and blechs or refrigerators. No electric lights or lights on timers.  No traffic lights, cars on the streets or open shopping stores. tNo distractions.  We probably don’t  realize how may distraction there can posibly be until they’re gone.

 

Earlier in Exodus we were given the Shabbos prohibitions regarding  gathering food, carrying, and preparing meals. Here in Parshas Vayekhel, in bamidmar, the desert, the wilderness, we are given the additional prohibitive laws of work-malacha on the Shabbos.

 

The contrasting profound emptiness in the desert by the malachas, work laws of Shabbos was an opportunity of the void created by the malachas to then become filled with a G-d consciousness.

 

We should look to experience this lesson of Shabbos of the experience in Parshas Vayekhel of a Shabbos  that is  created for us as a void for us  to fill with a G-d consciousness and His spiriitual goodness, and we should continue to have a  G-d consciousness in all our Mitzvot and all our affairs.

 

Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling