Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS VA'YAKHEIL 5765 BS"D

Ch. 35, v. 1: "Va'yakheil Moshe es kol adas bnei Yisroel" - Why was it necessary to assemble all the bnei Yisroel to relate the building of the Mishkon? Through Moshe's prophetic power he saw that in the future the Beis Hamikdosh would be destroyed because of baseless hatred, "sinas chinom." He therefore assembled them to symbolically indicate that their unity was paramount in maintaining the existence of the Sanctuary. (Rabbi Moshe of Pshevorsk in Ohr Pnei Moshe)

Ch. 35, v. 1: "Va'yakheil Moshe .. ei'leh hadvorim asher tzivoh Hashem laasose osom" - Moshe assembled the people and said that having them come together as a unified body is what Hashem commanded them to do. (Chidushei Hori"m)

Ch. 35, v. 1,2: "Va'yakheil Moshe .. ei'leh hadvorim asher tzivoh Hashem laasose osom, ..Uva'yom hashvii yi'h'yeh lochem kodesh Shabbas Shabbosone" - 1) Why was it necessary to assemble all the bnei Yisroel to relate the laws of Shabbos? 2) The verse ends with "laasose osom," to DO them, and immediately follows with the restriction of doing creative work on Shabbos. How is this "laasose"? 3) What is the intention of the word "lochem" in verse 2? 4) Why the double expression "Shabbas Shabbosone"?

One can accept upon himself to begin Shabbos a bit earlier than the actual advent of Shabbos. This is called "tosfos Shabbos" and is a Torah level Shabbos. There is an halacha that when a community accepts Shabbos early, i.e. starting Maariv prayers in a congregation, even the individuals who have not done so are also swept along and it is Shabbos for them as well. This is alluded to in these verses. The nation was assembled, indicating that they are to act in unison. "Laasose" alludes to CREATING the Shabbos through our accepting it early. This is "yi'h'yeh LOCHEM kodesh, you are all subject to it being Shabbos early, because the individual is drawn after the communal acceptance of an early Shabbos. Since it is an addition to the basic Shabbos, the double term "Shabbas Shabbosone" is used. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 35, v. 1,2: "Laasose osom, .. Kodesh Shabbas Shabbosone" - Don't just sanctify the Shabbos by refraining from work, MAKE Shabbos. Create an atmosphere of sanctity and holiness. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 35, v. 3: "Lo s'vaaru aish b'chole moshvoseichem b'yom haShabbos" - Some people sink very low in their weekday pursuits. Their activities are devoid of even a spark of sanctity. When Shabbos comes and work is prohibited, they must change from their spiritually totally extinguished mode to one of lighting a spiritual fire and warmth. This is not the correct way. One must imbue his workweek activities with warmth and sanctity as well, so that when Shabbos comes and he increases sanctity, he is not just beginning to create the fire. (Chasam Sofer)

Ch. 36, v. 6: "Va'yiko'lei ho'om meihovi" - And the nation experienced total cleavage of their souls with Hashem, "kalos nefesh," through the strong emotions accompanying their donating. (Rabbi Osher of Stolin in Birkas Osher)

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