Connections Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei 5767

The Connections people

With many thanks to our generous sponsors:
Chinuch Yaldei Hashluchim:
Rabbi & Mrs.
Kasriel & Chana E. Shemtov
Connections:
Mr. & Mrs.
Yochanan & Peri Brook
Mr. Mrs.
Zalman & Raizy Cousin

Chinuch Yaldei Hashluchim:

Rabbi M. Shemtov
Rivky Lokshin
Dabrushy Pink
Aydla Vechter

Connections
Proof-Readers:

Mrs. B. Wineberg
Mrs. G. Junik
Rabbi L. Zirkind
Rabbi Schmerling

Va’ad Hashluchim:
Rabbi Y. Deren
Rabbi O. Goldman
Rabbi Y. Greenberg
Rabbi B. Levertov
Rabbi Y. Shemtov

PARSHAS VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI

Mrs. Katz was explaining the connection between the Mishkan and tefillah to her fifth grade parshah class.
"Parshas Pekudei summarizes the building of the Mishkan," Mrs. Katz was saying. "The Torah tells us that Betzalel and Oholiav carried out the work as they were commanded. The Torah goes through the long list of the Bigdei Kehunah and the building of the Mishkan, telling us each time that it was all done 'as Hashem had instructed Moshe'."
"These words 'as Hashem had instructed Moshe' are repeated eighteen times. Our Chachomim connect this to davening. Can anyone guess why?" asked Mrs. Katz.
"That's easy," called out Chaya. "There are eighteen berachos in the Shemoneh Esreh."
"And something else," added Rina, "the most important avodah in the Mishkan was the offering of the korbanos. Today our tefillah takes the place of the korbanos."
"Very good," said Mrs. Katz. "There's more too. The Mishkan was built from many types of materials, teaching us that a Yid's avodah is to use everything in this world to serve Hashem. This way our world becomes uplifted and connected to Hashem's holiness. Tefillah is called a ladder, like the ladder in Yaakov's dream that stood on the ground but reached up into the heavens. Through tefillah, we left ourselves up and become connected to Hashem."
"Morah," Simi called out raising her hand. "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I counted the number of times the parshah says 'as Hashem commanded Moshe.' You said there were eighteen, but I counted nineteen."
"Oh, Simi!" Mrs. Katz said with a smile. "You just answered one of the questions I was going to give you for homework! You're right. It does say so nineteen times. Our sages tell us to start counting from the time it mentions Oholiav in the third passuk of the parshah. Then, the number totals eighteen."
"But why?" asked Chayah and Rivkah together.
"Why shouldn't we count from the beginning where Betzalel is mentioned?" added Simi.
"Let me explain," replied Mrs. Katz. "Betzalel was from Shevet Yehudah, which was first in line as the Jews traveled in the desert. Shevet Yehudah brought into the world the leaders whose descendants would later become kings. Oholiav was from the tribe of Dan, which was last in line on the journeys.
"The avodah of the Mishkan, to lift this world up for kedushah and connecting it to Hashem's holiness, comes about as we work together with achdus. This means including everyone - from the most important, talented, smartest person to the simplest Jew.
"The second passuk speaks only about Betzalel. But the third passuk begins, 'And with him Oholiav....' So we begin counting from there, from where Oholiav is included. When Shevet Dan and Shevet Yehudah work together, the Mishkan can be built 'as Hashem commanded Moshe'.
"Now, can someone connect this idea of achdus with tefillah?" asked Mrs. Katz.
Many hands shot up. Mrs. Katz called on Mindy.
"We begin davening with the words Hareini mekabel ali mitzvos asei shel veahavta lereiachaha kamocha," she replied.
"That's right. Ahavas Yisrael connects all Jews with one another, no matter who they are and where they may be. Through our tefillah, which begins with achdus, we can uplift ourselves and become connected to Hashem."

(Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. I)
‘Please Tell Me What the Rebbe Said’

Last of four,
About 1st of more.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Please send your answers to connections@shluchim.org

Last weeks’ brain buster: Red and unemployed

Answer: פרה אדומה

Sheina Chincholker, age 11
Bloomington, indiana

There are 3 kids in my family B"H. There is me, my younger brother Yosef Yitzchak who is 8 and my older sister Devora Leah who is 13.
I go to Cheder Lubavitch in Chicago.
We are shluchim on a college campus so whenever they have a break, the city is empty. The weather here is nice. It is normal, cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
I help my parents by doing mivtzoyim, being friendly to the people that come to our Chabad House so they will come again. I am not there during the weekdays since I go to school in Chicago which is 6 hours away. There is no Jewish school here in Bloomington.
We have a Chabad House. It is not that big but we are working on it.
In my free time I like talking to my friends and see what is happening with their lives.
In my house, the CYH Chassidishe calendar hangs in my brothers room.

didyouknow

This special פרשה is connected to the month of ניסן and its importance in being the first month. On פרשת החודש a second ספר תורה is taken out and פסוקים are read that talk about the מצוה of קידוש החודש - sanctifying the new moon and the מצוה of referring to ניסן as the first of the months.

פרשת החודש is also to remind people that פסח is coming and it is time to begin preparing for עליה לרגל - the מצוה to visit ירושלים on each of the שלש רגלים .

פרשת החודש is the שבת before ראש חודש ניסן or on ראש חודש ניסן if it falls out on שבת .

Even though the calendar begins with ראש השנה (חודש תשרי) , nevertheless, when we name or count the months, the תורה tells us to refer to ניסן as the first month. When the months are mentioned in תנ“ך , they are also called the first, second, third month and so on, starting from חודש ניסן .

(Adapted from e-chinuch.org)

See the printable version of Connections for incredible fun pages!

Last Week’s Winners:

Last Week’s Winners:
Mendel Lipskier, age 5 from Atlanta, Georgia
Mushky Wineberg, age 9 from Kansas City, Kansas