Parshas Vayakhel - Pekudei

By
Yerachmiel Bratt


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"Sheshes yamim taaseh melachah, u'vayom hashevii yiyheh lachem kodesh." Exodus 35:2 "On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you."

This verse would be more grammatical if it had mentioned its verb first. Also, why does the verse inform us that doing work is permissible during the six days of the week. This should be altogether obvious.

Hashem doles out reward to a person measure for measure. If one observes the Sabbath by keeping it holy and does not involve himself with any mundane matters on this day, then Hashem makes this person so wealthy that his weekdays become as restful as his Sabbath. One who has great wealth need not be involved directly in the sweat operation of his business; he therefore enjoys peace mid-week much as a regular person does on the Sabbath. If one chooses, he can have others perform his work on the six days while he rests. However, one must be exceptionally diligent in both observing the Sabbath and respecting its holiness. The Sabbath is not reserved for eating and drinking alone.

According to Rabbeinu, one may discover a deep secret behind the kiddush of Friday night by concentrating on his hands. How is this so? The number of bones in one's hand is fourteen which together with the palm of the hand itself equals fifteen. The total of both one's hands equal the gematria of thirty which mystically alludes to the heavenly lights called "kodesh" (holy) that are somehow drawn out from a person on Friday night when he makes kiddush.

The work of the weekday is associated with one's hands as it says in Proverbs, chapter 31:13 "And her hands work willingly...." Work is associated with one's hands. You use your hands during the week to do your work and on Friday night, the holiness of the thirty is released through your hands. The verse further tells us that the seventh day shall be holy for you. Shall be is a translation for the Hebrew word "yiyheh," the word "yiyheh" is twice fifteen which corresponds to the gematria of the sum of one's hands.



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