This Torah portion begins, and is named for, the SECOND use of the word "Vayakhel" in Scripture. Except, this time it's Moses that "gathers together" ALL of the assembly, not as a mob, but to hear, and do, what Yahuah commands.

Parsha Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20) returns to the topic of what those who have just escaped death should build together. And there seems to be a lot of emphasis in the text on their 'heart condition'.

Perhaps we should take note of what a 'near death experience' can do for our perspective, especially if we end up with wise and willing hearts.

The Erev Shabbat overview of the whole parsha :

https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SSM-3-17-23-Vayakhel-teaching-podcast-x-1.mp3

The Sabbath day teaching this week beings right where He does. And where Mark suggests (again, because He does!) we should focus today, even though it might not 'sit well' with our sun-god-day neighbors: His Sabbath. There's a reason He set it off with the 'torah-tag' equivalent of bright bold flashing text in the last parsha, and starts right there again after Moshe gathers them together THIS time for the right reason.

But it's the repeated references to the 'wise-hearted' that should set the context. Is this society, too, on the brink of death - economic, spiritual, medical/bio-weapon, and perhaps of even the fiery, nuclear form? True, most who have been dumbed-down into slavish complacency are oblivious to what is coming, but that doesn't mean WE shouldn't be ready for the time when THEY will panic.

"Vayakhel: In THIS God We Trust"

https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SSM-3-17-23-Vayakhel-teaching-podcast-x.mp3

 

The combined two-part podcast is here: