Sabbath Meaning? Vayakhel: A Ten Commandments’ Moment

And God saw everything that He made, and … it was very good.

Genesis 1:31

Why is taking time off of work in the Torah so important? The Portion Vayakhel explains it in human terms.

From Exodus version of the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath refrain from labor was tied to the world’s creation. The rationale being that God created the earth in six days and He, on the seventh day, rested. Exodus 20:8-11.

What was so special about the six days He labored? And, is there anything comparable to creating the world within human capacity?

With respect to these issues, Vayakhel details the Children of Israel’s most theologically significant construction project- the Tabernacle. The events transpiring during the project illustrate the connection between work and task completion with rest.

Vayakhel

Sabbath rules are Vayakhel’s initial topic.

The portion begins with Moses assembling all of the Children of Israel.

He told them “[t]hese are the things that the Lord commanded, to do them: Six days work shall be done, and in the seventh day you shall have a holy thing, a Sabbath, a ceasing to the Lord. Anyone who does work in it shall be put to death. You shall not burn a fire in all of your homes on the Sabbath day.” Exodus 35:1-3.

After the Sabbath Commandment proclamation, the portion’s focus shifts to the Tabernacle’s construction. Thus, prior to the onset of the Tabernacle construction’s labor activities, there is a reminder concerning work cessation.

The Tabernacle Work

For the Children of Israel, the Tabernacle was to be their most theologically important structure. It was to become the sacred location where the Israelite Deity was both worshiped and where He would reside.

With respect to the construction, Moses solicited the Children of Israel for contributions. The materials were needed for the structure, the decorations and the priestly clothing, i.e. menorah and the ephod.

In Vayakhel, the Children of Israel were told to “take a donation for the Lord among you. Everyone whose heart is moved shall bring it.” Exodus 35:5. [emphasis added]

These donations included labor. It was reported that women spun yarn and other individuals gathered acacia wood. Exodus 35:24-26.

The items collected or produced were then supplied to the designated crafts persons.

In essence, their inspired labor was contributing to build a holy structure.

The Project

The Portion then details the construction in process. As the project progressed, a problem developed. The wise persons doing the craft work received an abundance of donations.

This problem was presented to Moses. He was told that “[t]he people are bringing more than enough for the construction, for the work that the Lord has commanded, to do it!” Exodus 36:4-5.

In response, Moses needed to pass along a message to the Children of Israel. They were told “Man and woman: let them not do any more work for the donation for the Holy.” Exodus 36:6. It was noted that “the work had been enough for them, for all the work, to do it more and more.” Exodus 36:7.

In essence, all that was required from the Children of Israel had been completed. Cessation was not only deserved, it was necessary!

Cessation

Essentially, the inspired contribution led to a prompt task completion; a job well done.

Rabbi Harold Kushner observed as to the significance to work. He noted that “[i}f we put our soul into our work, if, rather than just going through the motions, what we do flows from the deepest part of our being, then after a burst of creativity, we need to replenish our souls.”

Thus, there is something important about for humans and the human spirit. Finding a way to find meaning in one’s tasks and labors is tied into the notion of cessation. After a week of dedicated work, a day off can be exhilarating.

For the Children of Israel, they were inspired to work on perhaps the most important theological project imaginable. Their efforts and the results were remarkable.

The Children of Israel’s act also reveals something about the world’s creation. Within God’s mind, the job was complete; no further work was necessary. It suggests that the physical world is complete. A number of good acts translated into an overall very good. The very good mark evidenced reaching the goal.

In essence, inspired work and its completion is as much of the Sabbath process as the cessation of work.

Conclusion

Vayakhel offers a human-relatable moment to understand labor. Once one begins to labor, there comes a time to stop and take a break.

The Portion took the inspired labor for the purposes of making the Tabernacle to make the point. Dedicated work can lead to moments of a job well done. With that, rest is indicated. They are connected.

With creation, once God got to the point of making something very good, it was time to stop. Likewise, with Vayakhel, the Children of Israel’s contributions for their most sacred institution exceeded what was necessary. It was time to say, a job well done; a time for a break.

A takeaway from this episode is that one’s labor, if possible, should be viewed in a positive light. Dedicated labor that is goal directed serves as the basis for taking a break. In essence, breaks are both earned and deserved. As Rabbi Kushner indicated, it is important for the soul.

Be well!!

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