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Torah Talk for Parashat Vayakhel

March 1, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, the Bnei Yisrael bring so many materials for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that Moshe tells them to stop; Betzalel and Oholiav, gifted craftspeople, construct the elements of the Mishkan.

The backgrounds of these craftspeople elucidate some important principles. Betzalel is introduced in Chapter 35, verse 30 as “Betzalel, the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehuda,” and Oholiav is introduced in verse 34 as “Oholiav, the son of Achisamach, of the tribe of Dan.” A number of commentators pick up on a midrash in Shemot Rabbah 40:4 which addresses the familial designations of Betzalel (whose name means “In the Shadow of God”) and Oholiav (“The Father is My Tent”). Read more >