#vayakhel #parshatvaykhel #sefershemot #shmot #shemot #cometogether #thebeatles #abbeyroad #cometogether #beatlesmusic #1969
Parshat Vayakhel might be the parsha that you fall asleep to while it is being read because it is largely a repeat of what we have already seen in the latter parshiyot of the book of Exodus, but it does contain treasures, and not just jewels found in the Mishkan. My favorite place to start is with the title of the parsha, Vaykhel, which translates as "and he assembled." People in the community are called upon to bring not just their precious metals, but their passions and their talents. Together, as a community, they will combine these materials, together with their talents in order to create a home for Gd.
It has been many years since the since the synagogue has taken the place of the Mishkan, and to this day we still find people who give of their goods and their talents to make these institutions a home that is homey to people who enter the gates.
Earlier this week I listened to an interesting podcast, from Pardes in Jerusalem about how difficult it is to bridge divides in the Jewish community today.
(from their website:)
How do we create a Jewish community that honors different perspectives?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Ilana Gleicher-Bloom explore Parshat Vayakhel and its vision of community. They discuss how Moshe transforms Bnei Yisrael from a fragmented group into a unified Kehilah through the shared mission of building the Mishkan. Drawing on insights from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, they examine the tension between pluralism and ideological divides—both in the Torah and in today’s Jewish world—and ask what it takes to build a true, inclusive community.
This podcast gave insight into the challenges of "coming together" in a communal sense in 2025. Thinking about this, it is easy to think about the great divide in our nation today. Can we bridge divides that seem so dark that we cannot see their light at the end of the tunnel?
It is helpful to go back to 1969, when the Beatle's song Come Together was introduced. 1969 was the year of a moon landing. The year of Woodstock and a huge generation gap. The Vietnam War was raging as was the conflict in Northern Ireland. Conflicts and gaps to be narrowed then.
What if we looked at world events in the 1940s? The 1930s? The turn of the 20th century? How about the 1860s? The 1700s? Medieval times? The times of the Romans? The times of the Pharisees and the Saducees? The Beatle's song, with its unknowable lyrics, except for "Come Together. Right Now. Over Me." would still be as relevant in any century because bridging societal gaps has always been an issue. I have no easy answers, except to say that sometimes it is good for us to step into someone else's shoes and consider what standing in those shoes feels like. Perhaps that would enable us to walk closer to The Other, standing so far from us.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom. Enjoy Parshat Vayakhel. It is full of gems.
May we hear good news soon.
Leann
Dedicated to the memory of John Lennon and to honor the Beatles. They gave us much to enjoy and to think about.
Come Together
Once upon a time,
not too long ago,
in the Land of Puddings and Ales
or perhaps
any land,
any time,
a man with round wire glasses,
whose name is still remembered
wrote a plea
set to the throb of a bass guitar.
The rhythm,
a perpetual beat of an
imperfect human heart
echoed
with words hammered
naked and exposed.
Only six words we understood.
Come together
right now
over me.
Perhaps it was a riddled prayer?
or an unrequited demand?
Or perhaps it was a timeless plea
from generation to generation
between
You and The Other
between
The Other and You.
Come Together.
Right Now.
Over me.
You, and not an angel
You, and not a seraph
You, and not a messenger.*
It seems demands and prayers
sail of the winds of time
which are forever howling,
rarely are they silenced.
We think we live at worst of times,
but so did they.
We think we are so far apart,
but it takes just one step
as the mantra keeps repeating,
the pendulum continues swinging.
Now is the time.
Here is the place.
Come Together
Right Now
Over me.
*Deuteronomy 26:8
An Interesting History of the Song COME TOGETHER.
A link to the podcast that inspired this post:
https://elmad.pardes.org/parsha/podcasts/2025/03/vayakhel-5785-building-a-diverse-mishkan/. Thank you to Rabbi Tzvi Hirschfield and his guests for lighting up the parsha each week.
Link to a few more posts from Words Have Wings on Parshat Vayakhel:
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/it-s-the-little-things-that-make-our-lives. Little Things That Make Our Lives. (my favorite!)
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/the-gifts-of-betzalel. The Gifts of Betzalel
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/white-linen-turquoise-threads. White Linen, Turquoise Threads
וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶֽת־כּל־עֲדַ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽם׃
Exodus 35:1
וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל
Comments