Kehillah – Building Community

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

February 25-26, 2022 / 25 Adar I 5782

Shabbat Vayak’hel/Shekalim

 

Torah: Exodus 35:1-38:20, 30:11-16

Haftarah: II Kings 12:1 - 12:17 | Shabbat Shekalim

 

“Kehillah – Building Community”

 

Dear Friends,

 

What does it mean to “build community?”  In last week’s Torah portion, the Children of Israel built and worshipped the Golden Calf.  In this week’s portion, they sought to correct their misdeed by enthusiastically building the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary for worshipping God.  They were so motivated to bring donations for the construction that at one point Moses had to call it off and ask them to stop.  They were donating too much!

 

Here's the point: In coming together to build the Mishkan, they were actually building a community – a kehillah. In working together, they got to know one another and created the foundation of a society that would carry them into the future.  When we work together towards a goal, we build a kehillah, we build community.”

 

Zye a mentsch – Be a Good Person!

 

Shabbat shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow