- Clergy
- Shabbat
When I saw I was assigned this week’s Shabbat message, I must admit that I was pretty disappointed upon realizing it was Parshat Vayakhel. I mean, just one week off from the trauma-induced incident of Ki Tisa? Just a few weeks after the Song of the Sea? RIGHT after Purim? Timing just didn’t seem to be on my side. After all, at first glance, the portion of Vayakhel simply starts with a scattering of rules Moses has already told the people and then dives into a very detailed account of various structural and ornamental elements of the Mishkan. Nothing too juicy or monumental plot-wise, certainly in comparison to the recent week's chapters and events.
However, when I sat down to re-read the Parshat, a few lines started to stir inspiration, and further, real reflection. After Moses tells the people the building instructions of the Mishkan, the Torah says:
“The whole community of Israelites…everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit was moved” got to work. Women brought their jewelry and used their creative skills to make linens and the chieftains used their strengths to build the structure. It is abundantly clear that the entire camp came together in this endeavor to create a holy space for G-d and a safe space to worship. Moses, though a trusted leader and valued guide of the Israelites, could not have accomplished this monumental task alone. Nor could one group or even one division of the camp. In fact, at one point in the Parshat, Moses has to tell the Israelites to stop contributing to the building of the Mishkan, because they have all gone above and beyond in their offerings and work. This task of creating something unique, something cherished, something invaluably special was truly a group effort.
As I reflect on my life, especially at this critical moment, I’m left with the same beautiful realization: the holiest and most sacred of spaces were, and continue to be, completely created through communal efforts. As my time in Cantorial School soon comes to a close, I can undoubtedly attest that my journey into the Cantorate has been guided and shaped due to the dedicated professors, valued mentors, and cherished classmates that have all nurtured a safe environment for me to learn and grow. Throughout my life, my amazing family has always shown exceptional care for creating a loving home, a shelter in which I can take comfort and feel completely at ease. And now, I have found a new holy Mishkan: Wilshire Boulevard Temple.
Just as Moses could not have built the holy dwelling space for the Israelites alone, the Mishkan of Wilshire is not built on the efforts of one solitary person; it is the entirety of this beautiful staff, clergy team, volunteers, congregants old and young, and everyone in between that have established this sacred tabernacle. Whether you have been here 6 months or 60 years, I am confident that you too recognize that Wilshire is a holy Mishkan, a safe and sacred space, where we all go to enrich our relationships with each other and with G-d. It is our true sanctuary, where we feel comfortable and able to discover the new depths of our spiritual and personal practices. It is our dwelling place where we seek answers to life's biggest and sometimes most difficult questions. And it is because we dwell together, we work together, and we intentionally contribute to the holiness of this Mishkan that Wilshire is the cherished, sanctified, and revered community it is today.
Parshat Vayakhel may not have any splashy plot points, and it may read more like an instruction manual than a deep, layered Torah portion, but it is important nonetheless. It is this Parshat that reminds us that the most divine and sacred spaces where we are able to connect with G-d cannot be built alone: we must rely on our people, whoever they are, to help us in this holy and essential work. The same is true for any important task in life–it is always better to have allies, team-mates, and trusted companions to tackle the good and even bad times. I am eternally grateful to all of you for your contributions to Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s holy Mishkan, for being the allies and trusted partners in creating this sanctified space for all of us, to grow, to connect, and to dwell amidst our cherished community.
Shabbat Shalom,
Cantorial Intern Aliya Stuart