* TORAH AND HAFTARAH * March 14th . 2015

* SHABAT SHALOM *

People Who Are Choosen To 

Light The Torch Of The 67th 

Independence Of Jewish State. 

Iron Dome inventor Danny Gold: Gold is one of the

 mastermind developers behind the Iron Dome missile

 defense system, which saved countless lives during

Israel's last conflict with Hamas, intercepting over 

1000 rockets fired at Israel from Gaza.

WAZE developer Ehud Shabtai will light a torch fo

r his role in spearheading the internationally acclaimed

 application purchased by Google for over $1 billion. 

He will light his torch together withOr Asulin,

 a 17-year-old high-school student from Acco, who

 leads a company geared a developing youth 

entrepreneurship in high-tech.

Rami Levi, whose chain of supermarkets is 

credited with revolutionizing food prices in

 Israel will also light a torch.

Alice Miller, Israel's first female pilot, will also light

 a torch for taking the IDF to the Supreme Court and

 clearing the way for female pilots and gender equality

 in the army.

Lucy Aharish, a Muslim Israeli-Arab journalist, will

 also take to the stage for being an outspoken voice 

against racism in Israel and a trailblazer for women

 and Arab journalists in Israel. Aharish hosts a daily

 news broadcast on i24 News.

Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin from the Hebrew 

University will light a torch for developing a 

groundbreaking drug Exelon, used to slow 

Alzheimer and Parkinson's disease. She will light

 a torch together with Dr. Gabriel Idan, an inventor

 who developed a miniature camera which

patients can ingest as an alternative to invasive

 procedures.

Rafi Mehudar, an Israeli inventor and entrepreneur, 

will light a torch for his groundbreaking irrigation 

inventions. His technologies have helped Israel and 

developing nations conserve much needed water.

Avihu Medina, a singer and songwriter who thrust

 Israel's Mediterranean music scene into the limelight

 will be honored for his contribution to Israeli music.

Sima Shine holds the highest rank of any women in 

Israel's intelligence operations, serving as director of

 the Division of Regional Affairs in the Strategic

 Affairs Ministry.

Israel is known for exporting its know-how to help other

 countries facing natural disasters. Gal Luskyexemplifies

 that ethic and practice, and will light a torch for her

 foundation Israel Flying Aid, which provides humanitarian

 relief in crisis situations across the world.

Female Rabbi Malka Piotrkowsky, who paved the

 way for women's study of Torah and the Talmud, 

will be honored for her work as a teacher and 

activist for women's rights in the religious community.

* Torah for Children * 

in 60 Seconds!.

* TORAH and HAFTARAH *

 For Parashat

 * VAYAKHEL and PEKUDEI * 

 23rd of Adar, 5775 

כ״ג בַּאֲדָר תשע״ה 

Sat, 14 March 2015

 بیست و سوم اسفند ماه ۱۳۹۳

 در ایران اشغالی

**************

For Children 

Parashat Pekudei

 In 60 Seconds

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+pekudai

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vayakhel+in+60+seconds

 For Children

  Parashat

  Vayakhel 

In 60 Seconds

Harav Kook Weekly 

* Torah *

Parashat

VaYakheil

Art and Creation 

Choosing a Leader 

Two Layers of Wisdom

Technology and the Sabbath

Stars in the Tabernacle

The Dual Nature of the Tabernacle

AND

Parashat

Pikudei

Always on His Mind

************

Haftarah for Vayakhel

Details of the Temple's construction.

  

Ashkenazic Custom: I Kings 7:40-50

Sephardic Custom: I Kings 7:13-26

This haftarah is also read on the second shabbat of Hanukkah.
Parashat Vayakhel describes the construction of the Mishkan--the temporary Temple that the Israelites used for worship in the desert.

The laws for the Mishkan’s construction were outlined previously, in Parashat Terumah. Now, three parshiyot later, we read about their implementation by the artisans Bezalel and Oholiab.

The haftarah for Parashat Vayakhel continues in the construction theme. The Ashkenazic custom is to read verses that list all the pieces that Hiram King of Tyre, a talented bronze worker, created for the Temple. This list includes two columns with two globes, 400 pomegranates, pails, scrapers, and sprinkling bowls. We learn that Hiram's bronze contributions were so heavy that King Solomon could not weigh them. Following the list of bronze pieces from Hiram, we read about the gold furnishings that Solomon made for the Temple: altar, candelabra, basins, ladles, and doors.

The Sephardic haftarah for Vayakhel begins earlier in the same chapter and offers an explanation of who Hiram was: "His father had been a Tyrian, a coppersmith. He was endowed with skill, ability, and talent for executing all work in bronze" (7:14). The verses that follow detail the large pieces of the Temple which Hiram cast in bronze: two tall columns and two capitals to be placed on top of these columns--all decorated with rows of pomegranates and lily designs. These columns, which were set up at the Great Hall of the Temple, were named Jachin and Boaz.

The meaning of these names is unclear, and their symbolism has been a point of exploration for mystics. A prominent 19th century Mishnah commentary, Tifereth Yisrael by Rabbi Israel Lipschutz, is subdivided into two parts, one more 

general and the other more analytical, titled Jachin and Boaz respectively

Haftarah for Pekudei

The Temple construction is completed.

Parashat Pekudei marks the end of the cluster of Torah portions pertaining to the construction of the Mishkan--the temporary Temple the Israelites used for worship in the deser

After all the pieces of the Mishkan are in place, and Moses' work is completed, we read about God's powerful presence taking over the space: "Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle" (Exodus 40:35).

The haftarah for Pekudei, according to the Ashkenazic custom, describes the completion of construction for the first Temple, under Solomon's rule. Having brought in all the treasures and donations for the Temple, Solomon gathers the elders of Israel to install the Ark in the Temple.

The Ark contained the two tablets Moses had received from God, and it was shielded by two cherubim--statues of winged creatures. After the priests placed the Ark in the Holy of Holies, the Temple was complete.

Here too, God's presence is described in physical, overwhelming terms: "A cloud filled the House of the Lord and the priests were not able to remain and perform the service because of the cloud, for the Presence of the Lord filled the House" (8:10-11).

Solomon's Speech

Solomon delivers a speech to consecrate the Temple. First he addresses God: "I have now built for You a stately House, a place where You may dwell forever" (8:13). Then he addresses the people of Israel and recounts the history that led up to the Temple's construction.

His father David, Solomon says, had intended to build the Temple. But God denied David this right and told him that instead his son would build it.

Solomon declares that now God's promise has been fulfilled: "I have succeeded my father David and have ascended the throne of Israel. I have built the House for the Lord and I have set a place there for the Ark, containing the covenant which the Lord made with our fathers when He brought them out from the land of Egypt" (8:20-21).

The Sephardic Custom

The Sephardic custom is to read a selection that lists all the pieces that Hiram King of Tyre, a talented bronze worker, created for the Temple. This includes two columns with two globes, 400 pomegranates, pails, scrapers, and sprinkling bowls. This selection is also the Ashkenazic reading for Parashat Vayakhel, and more information about it can be found here.

HAVE A NICE WEEK

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