For full text in English and Hebrew click here: Exodus 35:1-38:20
In this Torah portion, God commands the Israelites not to do any work in the Sanctuary on Shabbat. The Israelites gather gifts for God. They gather so many that they are restrained from searching for more. Moses says that Ohaliab and Bezalel, who are filled with the spirit of God, should take the gifts of the Israelites and build God’s Sanctuary.
| Click here for a summary of Vayakhel. Click here for a summary of the Haftarah for Vayakhel. |
 The Israelites brought God gifts of gold. |
Text Studies |
Social Action and Environmentalism |
| The Loveliest Was the Unicorn Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Hillel |
Six Days Shall You Work Sam Berrin Shonkoff, AJWS |
| Spirituality Never Stops Rabbi Neal Loevinger, KOLEL |
From “Other” to “Beloved” Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels, AJWS |
| On Matters of the Heart Michelle Young, Union for Reform Judaism |
Initiative & Self-Sufficiency Rabbi Ahud Sela, AJWS |
| Table For Two Rabbi Phil Miller, socialaction.com |
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| Ecology & Shabbat Jonathan Neril, Canfei Nesharim |
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From the Denominations |
Pluralism and Outreach |
| Clothes Are the Message Rabbi Bradley Artson, American Jewish Unversity |
Sacred Relationships Rabbi Shimon Felix, Bronfman Youth Fellowship |
| Living Up to Our Names Rabbi Charles Savenor, JTS |
Moving Towards Redemption Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Jewish Outreach Institute |
| Holiness is Not Intrinsic Rabbi Aaron Cohen, Orthodox Union |
The Nature of Cosmos Rachel Adler, Women of Reform Judaism |
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Family and Fun |
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| Parashat Vayakhel Quiz Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies |
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| Parashat Vayakhel Challah Julie Seltzer |
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| Parashat Vayakhel for Families Torah Topics for Today |
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| The Power of We Torah Topics for Today |
Return to the index of weekly Torah portions.
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Torah
Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.
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