VAYAKHEL - PEKUDAI 1980

Only Moshe could put the Tabernacle together.  He saw the total picture.  He knew that a Tabernacle had to approach ideal.  Judaism is a religion which sanctifies time.  The Tabernacle was a symbol of holiness of purity.  It wasn't a business.  It was different than other institutions in life.  In business you have to be ruthless, fire people, foreclose, etc.  A doctor has to cause pain to heal, a lawyer uses all the loopholes of the law for his client.  Religious institutions must be different.  All it offers is hope and idealism.  If it violates moral norms, strives for competitive advantage it loses the respect of its members.  And when it loses the respect of its members they will leave it in droves.  Everyone who was involved in the Tabernacle looked only at his things.  When they tried to put it together they couldn't, each one was vying for competitive advantage.  Even Bezala and Ohliob couldn't.  Only Moshe could.  He saw whole picture.  Others were competing with each other, wanted advantage.  After Moshe put it together (when others tried it, all fell apart) he blessed them.  His blessing was may the graciousness of the L-rd be upon your heads.  He wanted them to have graciousness and harmony.  In this sedra the phrase "And as G-d commanded Moshe so it was done" is mentioned 18 times.  Eighteen is chai, life.  The Tabernacle must promote life, harmonious life.  Life can only exist in a body when all its parts in harmony.  The number of letters in phrase is 13 the same number as the number of times the word heart (Lev) is mentioned in Torah.  The Tabernacle must have a heart.  Religious institutions must be different than other institutions.  People have to look up to them.  If they can't they won't belong.  That's why Sabbath mentioned next to building Tabernacle.  Sabbath is different and holy so must religious institutions.  Shabbos Hashodesh same message.  People have to look at whole picture that's told about-lamb 10 days in advance.  We also go by moon because sometimes moon disappears, most of the rest of the time we can't see all of it but we know it's there and must act accordingly we must always take in whole picture.  The lamb had to be eaten whole for the same picture.  Story about man who was showing house.  He entered bedroom next to the kitchen there he found wife in amorous embrace with best friend Jerry.  He turned to customer and said, "This is my wife, Suzy, and my best friend, Jerry."  He then took him into kitchen and offered him a cup of coffee.  "But your wife and Jerry" customer said.  "Oh let them get their own coffee" said owner.  We must look at whole picture.