Vayak’hel (He Assembles), P’kudei (Accounts)

In this portion, Moses addresses the entire nation and charges them with the privilege of building the Tabernacle. Much of the text is a repetition of the directions given in the previous chapters. Israel’s ability to create a setting for יהוה’s Presence is a measure of its greatness and, indeed, a primary reason for its very existence. Its future history …