Pekudei
פקודיCompleting the Mishkan
23 translated essays · 33 total
תרל"א(1870)
Mishkan Counting and Renewal· Essay 1
“The portions Vayakhel–Pekudei.” The Sefat Emet opens by referencing the twin Torah portions that conclude the Book of Exodus, which describe the communal gathering and the detailed accounting of the Mishkan. “And the portion of HaChodesh.”…
Unity Within Counted Multiplicity· Essay 2
“And in the Midrash on Pekudei: ‘A man of faith increases blessings,’ etc.” The Sefat Emet cites the Midrash, which teaches that a person of faith becomes a conduit for abundant blessing. “It comes to explain that in counting, blessing does…
Pekudei תרל"א
תרל”א פ’ ויקהל פקודי ופ’ החודש ובמדרש פקודי איש אמונות רב ברכות כו’. בא ליישב כי במנין אין הברכה שולט. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 51:1) quotes the pasuk in Mishlei (28:20) “A dependable man (a man of emuna) will rece…
תרל"ב(1871)
תרל"ה(1874)
Mishkan Atoning Through Deeds· Essay 1
“These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of Testimony…” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that the Tabernacle is called “testimony.” It is testimony that the Holy One, blessed be He, forgave the sin of the Golden Calf. The…
Mitzvos Drawing Divine Presence· Essay 2
And by way of allusion: the “accounts of the Mishkan” are the commandments, “the precepts of the Lord are upright.” The Sefat Emet begins by identifying the term “accounts of the Mishkan” with the mitzvot themselves, hinting that the Mishka…
Sanctifying Action Through Mishkan· Essay 3
“In the verse: ‘And it was completed… and the Children of Israel did all that God had commanded.’” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the Torah emphasizes both the completion of the work and Israel’s faithful execution of God’s command, f…
Pekudie תרל"ה
אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות כו’ עדות הוא שמחל הקב”ה חטא העגל. These are the countings of the Mishkan of testimony (Shemos 38:21). (Shemos Rabbah 51:4) It was a testimony that HaShem forgave them for the sin of the Golden Calf. וב…
תרל"ו(1875)
Pekudei תרל"ו 1· Essay 1
“Pekudei and Parashat HaChodesh.” The Sefat Emet hints that the themes of Parashat Pekudei and Parashat HaChodesh are interconnected: Pekudei deals with the completion and ordering of the Mishkan, while HaChodesh introduces renewal and the …
Mishkan Testifying Divine Glory· Essay 2
“These are the records of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Testimony. In Midrash Tanchuma it is written that the Mishkan is beloved like the creation of heaven and earth, for regarding them it says ‘testimony’… and regarding the Mishkan it also …
Faithfulness Drawing Abundant Blessing· Essay 3
“And in the Midrash: ‘A man of faith has many blessings,’ etc.” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which teaches that abundant blessing comes through one who embodies faith. “The explanation is that the Holy One, blessed be He, is…
Renewal Through Lunar Months· Essay 4
“And in the Midrash: ‘This month…’ Israel counts by the moon…” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash that Israel’s calendar follows the moon. “The reason is that time exists within nature, for the Torah is above time; and whenever ren…
Pekudei תרל"ו – פ' החודש
פקודי ופ’ החודש אלה פקודי המשכן משכן העדות. במד’ תנחומא חביב המשכן כבריאת שמים וארץ דכתיב בהם עדות העדותי בכם כו’ את השמים כו’ ובמשכן כתיב העדות כו’ ע”ש. “These are the records of the Mishkan of testimony…
תרל"ח(1877)
Mishkan Mending Fractured Unity· Essay 1
“These are the records of the Mishkan… by the word of Moses… and in the Midrash: ‘A man of faith—abundant blessings.’” The Sefat Emet opens by linking the verse to the Midrash teaching that faith brings blessing. The explanation is that the…
Unbreakable Love Earning Pardon· Essay 2
Rashi states that it is a testimony for Israel that He forgave them for the sin of the Golden Calf. The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that the Mishkan served as a divine sign that Israel had achieved forgiveness after the Golden Calf. But…
תרל"ט(1878)
Fragments Recalled from Vayakhel· Essay 1
“Of the portions Vayakhel and Pekudei, most has slipped from me—only a little remains that I recall.” The Sefat Emet acknowledges that his memory of these teachings is limited, and he will record only the small portion that he still remembe…
Israel's Sufficient Willing Gifts· Essay 2
The Tabernacle of Testimony. The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the Mishkan is called a “Testimony.” For it is truly a wondrous testimony that the Mishkan was completed according to His will through the generosity of the Children of Israe…
תרמ"א(1880)
תרמ"ב(1881)
תרמ"ג(1882)
Pekudei תרמ"ג 1· Essay 1
“Pekudei.” The Sefat Emet hints that the portion of Pekudei deals with accounting, clarification, and the revelation of how all components of the Mishkan are counted and unified toward divine service. “And the portion of Shekalim.” This poi…
Tabernacle Testifying to Creation· Essay 2
“In the verse: ‘These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Testimony,’ etc.” The Sefat Emet opens by focusing on the double expression “Mishkan, Mishkan of Testimony.” For the tablets are also called “the Testimony.” The term “…
Awakening Israel From Below· Essay 3
In the Midrash on “And they brought the Mishkan to Moses,” it says: “Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all.” The Sefat Emet opens by citing the Midrash, which praises Israel’s collective achievement in building the Mi…
Preparation and willing heart outweigh the deed· Essay 4
In the Midrash Tanchuma: "The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a paved highway" (Mishlei 15:19). The Sefas Emes brings the pasuk contrasting two kinds of people: for the lazy one, his path is obs…
10 more essays from this section await translation.