Parashat Vayakhel: Gather to Make Our Lives Better

This week's parashah is Parashat Vayakhel: And He Gathered.

Moses calls upon the entire people to come together, to be united. The last time they had gathered was around the Golden Calf. But after that sin, this week we see the path to repair: the people of Israel now gather around Moses and listen to instructions for building the Mishkan, the spiritual center that will accompany them in the desert.

We can gather around a Golden Calf, or we can gather for the sake of a symbolic Tabernacle. But we must always reflect on who our community is, why we come together, and where our environment and society are leading us.

Community is a powerful force. It gives us a sense of belonging and equality. It is the space where we grow and express ourselves as Jewish individuals, both personally and collectively. We see ourselves reflected in those around us, finding role models to emulate, adapt, or even reject.

It is within our community that we support each other in moments of sorrow, just as we did this week, sharing grief with dear friends, and in moments of joy, as we did last week during Purim. This duality, deeply ingrained in our traditions, is the same duality we experience in our daily lives.

Vayakhel begins with Moses gathering the people of Israel to teach them the importance of Shabbat before giving instructions on constructing the Mishkan. This sequence is no coincidence: first, we are reminded of the value of rest and reflection, and only then, the importance of collective work toward a greater purpose. Sometimes, in our eagerness to reach our destination, we are willing to take the wrong path. But boundaries must be set, the Mishkan is not to be built on Shabbat. There is a day when work must stop, a day that is sacred. There is a Shabbat in the world.

"Ve'Asu", "And they shall make" is a key phrase in this parashah. Over and over again, our ancestors in the desert make, they build the Tabernacle, sew, donate, assemble, and construct.

Our ancestors performed 39 different types of labor to build the Mishkan. Our Sages of Blessed Memory (Chazal) interpreted that, due to the alternating references in the text between these labors and the description of Shabbat, these are the types of work that we must refrain from on this day of rest.

It is striking that the creation of the world is described in the Torah, in Bereshit, in about 30 verses, while the construction of the Mishkan is detailed in 400 verses. As if the Torah were teaching us that while it is important to acknowledge what God has done or continues to do, it is even more critical to focus on what He commands us to do. We must dedicate ourselves to improving our actions in this world.

This parashah highlights two essential values: community and the balance between doing and being. It speaks to the power of gathering and cooperation. It is not just about individuals working separately, but about collective building, where each person contributes according to their skills and resources.

The message of Shabbat in this context also reminds us to pause and reflect that we are not defined solely by our productivity. In a world that glorifies constant action, Shabbat allows us to simply be, to connect with others without the urgency of unfinished tasks.

Thus, Parashat Vayakhel offers us a timeless lesson: building together is important, but even more so is knowing when to pause, share, and reflect on the purpose of our work. It is within this balance that we find our humanity.

A remarkable moment in this parashah: the people, so enthusiastic about building the Mishkan, bring so many donations that Moses has to command them to stop, because they have already given enough.

Generosity is important, but so is knowing our limits. In a world where excess and accumulation are often seen as measures of success, this passage teaches us that more is not always better. What truly matters is not the quantity of what we give or have, but ensuring that each contribution is meaningful and sufficient for its intended purpose.

This message is deeply relevant today: in how we consume natural resources, manage our time and energy, and even in how we help others. To be generous does not mean giving without measure, but rather giving responsibly, making sure our actions truly benefit the collective good without creating waste or inequality. Vayakhel invites us to reflect on the balance between giving and conserving, between enthusiasm and moderation. It reminds us that true building, whether of a community, a family, or a more just society,is about offering what is needed, without excess, but with intention and commitment.

The themes of collective construction, responsible generosity, and knowing when to stop once the goal is reached are central to Vayakhel. They also compel us to think about the value of community,of a people coming together for a greater purpose.

Today, as we think of our brothers and sisters who remain in captivity, the idea of the collective takes on an urgent and painful significance. We cannot allow ourselves to forget them or accept their captivity as normal. Just as in the desert, each person contributed what they could to build a space of meaning and connection, today, we must contribute our voices, our pressure, and our actions to bring them home.

Another painful duality: accepting the end of a ceasefire as a deterrent measure, while knowing that it only increases the risk to the lives of the hostages, divides us—as a people and within ourselves. Every day that passes without their release is an affront to our humanity.

In Vayakhel, the people stopped giving when they were asked to. Today, we cannot stop demanding their return until each one is safely home.

May this Shabbat strengthen our determination to keep moving forward, building our communities, respecting one another, and preserving the sacred spaces of reflection and rest that Halacha and our tradition have given us...until the task is complete.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Gustavo Geier