Parsha Talk Vayakhel Pekudei Hachodesh 5786 2026

Rabbi Eliot Malomet, Rabbi Barry Chesler, Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky

Parashat Va-yaq’hel-P’qudai [35:1–40:38] concludes the Book of Exodus, echoing the parts of the three previous parashiyot which contain the instructions for the Tabernacle. This week, the parashah describes the building of the Tabernacle, concluding with the note that “when Moses had finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” [Ex. 40:33b-35].

Most of our conversation expored the ramifications of verses 40:20-21, which describe the placement of the edut, translated as “Pact” in the NJPS and “testimony” in JPS, in the ark. We reserved some time at the end to talk about Exodus 12:1-21, the maftir for Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the Shabbat coinciding with, or as with this year just before, Rosh Hodesh Nisan, observed next Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the soldiers of the US Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.