VAYAKHEL - If you are a lover of reruns and folks who nag you by repeating the same instructions over and over again, you’ll love this week’s Torah portion. Evidently, the golden calf screw up destroyed any faith God had in the Israelites’ abilities to follow simply directions, because what has already been divined concerning the building of the tabernacle is divined one more time. Either, for the benefit of the numbskulls who were there, or for us, the studio audience, the colors, the skins, the materials, the oils, the gemstones and the incense aromas that to go into making this holy effort fly are again paraded before us.

Though seemingly a cumbersome repetition, a subtle, difference is here writ. Now, when God/Moses speaks to the bedraggle miscreants they are talked to as a whole – as a community. No small amount of ink is wasted in addressing this group still standing as a collection of deeply spiritual and caring Team God members. The tone shifts. These folks are seen as master craftsmen and holy imbued artisans. Even the women are viewed as a blessed and essential part of the talent pool. In fact, these new Jews are so kind, giving and diligent that they have to be pulled back from over doing their contributions.

PEKUDEI – In this piece of the portion pie – two are read some weeks -the efficiency managers and CPA’s have their day. As the tabernacle construction proceeds Moses gives us more accounting information than we want. Inventories and inspection ad nausea are ciphered so, one can assume, God knows everything was on the up and up whilst completing the sacred space. No graft here.

Finally, when God is convinced all the Aramaic tees have been crossed and the Hebrew is dotted, the event planners are called, the A-list is invited, the press has passes, and the paparazzi are amassed, the Tabernacle is dedicated. God arrives on time dressed  in the season’s finest cloud.