13 Mar Vayekhel – Pekudei; The Juxtaposition of Profound Emptiness

In parshas Vayakhel a Law was given to stop work on the 7th day,  the Sabbbath. The void created by the observance of the Sabbath Law created an all encompassing void, only to experience the light of the stars, the columns of fire and the clouds of glory. Shabbos is a time to be nullified- bitul, and be spiritually fulfilled. In bamidbar was a pure Shabbos experience.  

 

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. AIINo 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 the work on the Mishkan and the 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 event of Shabbos as it was in Parshas Vayekhel where there was  created for us as a void to fill with a G-d Consciousness and His spiritual 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