Erev Shabbos Kodesh Vayakhel-Pikudei 5724 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Blessing and Greeting:

In view of the well-known Torah-expression of the Alter Rebbe, author of Tanya and Shulchan Aruch, the founder of Chabad, that “A Jew must live in accordance with the time,”¹ that is, with the sedra of the week — because the Torah reflects all current events and offers the necessary instructions for the day to day life.

The Sedra Vayakhel-Pikudei of this Shabbos, and the sedra Vayikra the following Shabbos, contain most appropriate and relevant instructions for the convention. I will dwell here on a few of these:

In Vayakhel-Pikudei the Torah tells us how the Mishkan with all its holy vessels were actually made, and repeats there all the details which had already been stated explicitly in Terumah and Tetzaveh. This lengthy account, which the Torah could have foregone, emphasizes the importance of action, as our Sages, of blessed memory, expressed it: “The deed is the most important.”² The earlier passages stated how G-d told Moses on Mount Sinai the whole plan of the Mishkan, while here we are told how this was actually done with the personal participation of every man and woman. At the same time it is emphasized here that the women were a living example for the men (“and the men came after the women”³) by their sincere readiness to fulfill the Divine will.

The intended purpose of the Mishkan was to give concrete expression to the Divine desire and promise: “I will dwell in their midst⁴ — within each and every one”⁵: that every Jewish heart and every Jewish home be an abode for the Divine Shechinah, just as the intended purpose of the sacrifices was that every Jewish heart come close to G-d (“an offering from you”⁶), as the Torah emphasizes at the very beginning of Vayikra.

This expresses the eternity of the Torah. The Mishkan made of gold and silver, etc. can temporarily be destroyed, and the sacrifices of cattle and sheep can temporarily be suspended. The Mishkan in their midst and the service in the heart, however, are not affected; on the contrary, they have been strengthened. When contemplating on these teachings of the Torah at this time, each and every one must arouse in himself new strength to do everything possible to demonstrate the eternity of the Torah through living deeds in the daily life, so that the Almighty can say of each Jewish heart and every Jewish home:

“This is My Mishkan, and these prayers are My sacrifices!”

It is the task of N’shei uBnos Chabad to help realize the aforesaid, not only with regard to themselves but also for the benefit of others, in the environment at large. That is why the Almighty bestowed upon Jewish women a very great measure of sincere and profound feelings of ahavas Hashem (love of G-d), ahavas haTorah (love of Torah) and ahavas Yisroel (love of Israel), and gave them the privilege to be the akeres habayis (foundation of the house) in every Jewish home.

May the Almighty grant you success in your annual undertaking, and your activities throughout the year, to fulfill your far-reaching task in the fullest measure.

With blessings for success and glad tidings,

/Signed: Menachem Schneerson/