Parshat Vayak’hel/Shabbat Sh’kalim
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In this week’s parashah, Vayak’hel, the community of Israel carries out God’s instructions for building the mishkan, God’s portable home on earth. Moshe begins by calling on everyone with a willing heart to contribute materials for the project. “Take from yourselves an offering for God.” Moshe could have simply said “Take an offering.” Why did he add “from yourselves”? According to the Slonimer Rebbe, Moshe meant to teach that the most important part of any gift is the part of ourselves that goes with it. The Talmud teaches that “God wants the heart.” It is when we give of ourselves that we feel most deeply that our lives have meaning and purpose. In the work of building spiritual community, the most important gift that we can contribute is an open heart — an openness to searching and growing together in prayer, in learning, and in caring for each other. It is in that collective openness that God finds a home on earth. May we all find joy in giving that gift to each other, and to God.
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