Torah Portion of the Week

Vayakhel-Pekudei ויקהל-פקודי

Exodus 35:1–40:38

The double parsha of Vayakhel-Pekudei brings the Book of Exodus to its triumphant conclusion — from the divine blueprint to physical reality to the descent of God's Presence. Moses gathers the entire community, first reaffirming the sanctity of Shabbat, then calling for voluntary offerings. The people respond with such overwhelming generosity that Moses must order them to stop. Bezalel, Oholiab, and the skilled craftsmen build the Tabernacle's curtains, boards, Ark, Table, Menorah, and altars. Every ounce of gold, silver, and copper is meticulously accounted for, the priestly garments are completed, and Moses inspects and blesses the finished work. On the first of Nisan, Moses erects the Tabernacle and places every vessel in its position. The Cloud of Glory descends, God's Presence fills the Sanctuary, and the cloud and fire guide Israel for all their journeys.

Landscapes of the Promised Land

Tree of Life by Yael Flatauer - Framed Canvas Print

From $245

Own This Parsha as Art →

Locations in the Parsha

Biblical Places

Map of the Parsha

Biblical Locations

Section by Section

Parsha Outline

1 of 12

Shabbat Before the Sanctuary

שבת לפני המשכן

Exodus 35:1–35:3

Moses assembles the entire congregation and begins not with the Tabernacle but with Shabbat: six days work may be done, but the seventh is holy — a Sabbath of complete rest. Anyone who works on it shall be put to death. The Torah adds a specific prohibition: 'You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.' By placing Shabbat first, the Torah teaches that even the holiest construction must yield to sacred time.

2 of 12

The Call for Voluntary Offerings

נדבת העם

Exodus 35:4–35:20

Moses relays God's request for materials: gold, silver, copper, dyed wools, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins, acacia wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. He calls on all who are 'wise of heart' to come and make the Tabernacle's components — the tent, its coverings, clasps, boards, bars, pillars, the Ark, the Table, Menorah, altars, courtyard hangings, priestly garments, anointing oil, and incense.

3 of 12

The People's Generous Response

נדיבות לב העם

Exodus 35:21–35:29

The response is extraordinary. Everyone whose heart stirs them and whose spirit moves them brings offerings — brooches, earrings, rings, gold ornaments; blue, purple, and scarlet wool; fine linen and goat hair; ram skins and acacia wood. The leaders bring precious stones, oil, and spices. Both men and women participate, each contributing according to their ability and desire.

4 of 12

Bezalel and Oholiab Appointed

בצלאל ואהליאב

Exodus 35:30–36:7

Moses announces that God has chosen Bezalel son of Uri of the tribe of Judah, filled with the spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in every craft. Alongside him is Oholiab son of Ahisamach of Dan. They and every skilled artisan begin the work — but the people keep bringing more offerings every morning until the craftsmen tell Moses they have more than enough. Moses issues a proclamation: no more contributions. The surplus itself testifies to the people's devotion.

5 of 12

Building the Tabernacle Structure

בניית המשכן

Exodus 36:8–36:38

The skilled workers begin by constructing the Tabernacle's coverings: ten curtains of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and scarlet wool in cherub patterns, joined in sets by golden clasps; eleven curtains of goat hair joined by copper clasps; and outer layers of dyed ram skins and tachash hides. Then come the wall boards — gold-plated acacia wood set into silver sockets — with connecting bars. The Parochet curtain and entrance screen are woven and hung on their pillars.

6 of 12

Crafting the Sacred Vessels

כלי הקודש

Exodus 37:1–37:29

Bezalel crafts the Ark of acacia wood overlaid with gold inside and out, topped by the golden cover with two cherubim. He makes the Table with its golden crown, dishes, and utensils. The Menorah is hammered from a single talent of pure gold — shaft, branches, cups, knobs, and flowers. He builds the golden Incense Altar with its horns and crown, and prepares the sacred anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense.

7 of 12

The Copper Altar and Courtyard

מזבח הנחושת והחצר

Exodus 38:1–38:20

The Altar of Burnt Offerings is built of copper-plated acacia wood, five cubits square and three cubits high, with horns at its corners and a copper grating. The copper Laver and its base are made from the mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Finally, the courtyard is enclosed with fine linen hangings supported by pillars set in copper sockets with silver hooks and bands — one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide.

8 of 12

Accounting of the Materials

פקודי המשכן

Exodus 38:21–39:1

At Moses' direction, the Levites under Ithamar son of Aaron take an exact inventory of all materials used. The gold totals nearly 29 talents, the silver — collected as the half-shekel from 603,550 men — amounts to 100 talents plus 1,775 shekels, and the copper totals about 70 talents. Silver was cast into the hundred sockets of the Tabernacle and the curtain pillars; copper was used for the altar, its grating, courtyard sockets, pegs, and vessels.

9 of 12

Completing the Priestly Garments

עשיית בגדי הכהונה

Exodus 39:2–39:31

The artisans complete every garment exactly as God commanded Moses. They weave the golden Ephod with its shoulder stones engraved with the tribal names, the Breastplate set with twelve precious stones, the blue Robe with golden bells and woven pomegranates, the golden Head-plate inscribed 'Holy to the Lord,' and the tunics, sashes, turbans, and linen breeches for all the priests.

10 of 12

Moses Inspects and Blesses

משה בודק ומברך

Exodus 39:32–39:43

The people bring all the finished components to Moses: the Tabernacle structure, its coverings and boards, the Ark, Table, Menorah, golden altar, copper altar, laver, courtyard hangings, and all the priestly garments. Moses examines everything and sees that it has been made exactly as God commanded. He blesses them — tradition says he prayed: 'May the Divine Presence rest upon the work of your hands.'

11 of 12

Moses Erects the Tabernacle

הקמת המשכן

Exodus 40:1–40:33

God instructs Moses to erect the Tabernacle on the first day of Nisan. On that day, Moses himself raises the boards, inserts the bars, spreads the coverings, places the Ark and Testimony in the Holy of Holies, sets the Table, Menorah, golden altar, and copper altar, fills the laver, and erects the courtyard. The phrase 'as the Lord commanded Moses' recurs eighteen times.

12 of 12

The Cloud of Glory

ענן הכבוד

Exodus 40:34–40:38

The Cloud covers the Tent of Meeting and the Glory of the Lord fills the Tabernacle — so powerfully that even Moses cannot enter. This cloud becomes Israel's guide: when it lifts, they journey; when it rests, they camp. The Cloud of the Lord is upon the Tabernacle by day, and fire is within it by night, before the eyes of all Israel throughout all their journeys. With these words, the Book of Exodus concludes.

Prophetic Reading

Haftarah הפטרה

I Kings 7:51–8:21

מלכים א

Solomon completes the Temple and brings the Ark inside — paralleling the completion of the Tabernacle in these combined parshiyot. God's glory fills both structures upon their dedication.

Full Text

Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei

Exodus 35:1–40:38 · 214 verses

First Aliyah

ראשוןExodus 35:1–35:29

Chapter 35

פרק 35

Layout

Language

Layout

Language

1 וַיַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁה אֶֽת כׇּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָֽם

2 שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תֵּעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יִהְיֶה לָכֶם קֹדֶשׁ שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן לַיהֹוָה כׇּל הָעֹשֶׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה יוּמָֽת

3 לֹא תְבַעֲרוּ אֵשׁ בְּכֹל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶם בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת

4 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל כׇּל עֲדַת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה לֵאמֹֽר

5 קְחוּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶם תְּרוּמָה לַֽיהֹוָה כֹּל נְדִיב לִבּוֹ יְבִיאֶהָ אֵת תְּרוּמַת יְהֹוָה זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת

6 וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ וְעִזִּֽים

7 וְעֹרֹת אֵילִם מְאׇדָּמִים וְעֹרֹת תְּחָשִׁים וַעֲצֵי שִׁטִּֽים

8 וְשֶׁמֶן לַמָּאוֹר וּבְשָׂמִים לְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְלִקְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּֽים

9 וְאַבְנֵי שֹׁהַם וְאַבְנֵי מִלֻּאִים לָאֵפוֹד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן

10 וְכׇל חֲכַם לֵב בָּכֶם יָבֹאוּ וְיַעֲשׂוּ אֵת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָֽה

11 אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶֽת אׇהֳלוֹ וְאֶת מִכְסֵהוּ אֶת קְרָסָיו וְאֶת קְרָשָׁיו אֶת בְּרִיחָו אֶת עַמֻּדָיו וְאֶת אֲדָנָֽיו

12 אֶת הָאָרֹן וְאֶת בַּדָּיו אֶת הַכַּפֹּרֶת וְאֵת פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָֽךְ

13 אֶת הַשֻּׁלְחָן וְאֶת בַּדָּיו וְאֶת כׇּל כֵּלָיו וְאֵת לֶחֶם הַפָּנִֽים

14 וְאֶת מְנֹרַת הַמָּאוֹר וְאֶת כֵּלֶיהָ וְאֶת נֵרֹתֶיהָ וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמָּאֽוֹר

15 וְאֶת מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת וְאֶת בַּדָּיו וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְאֵת קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים וְאֶת מָסַךְ הַפֶּתַח לְפֶתַח הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן

16 אֵת מִזְבַּח הָעֹלָה וְאֶת מִכְבַּר הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ אֶת בַּדָּיו וְאֶת כׇּל כֵּלָיו אֶת הַכִּיֹּר וְאֶת כַּנּֽוֹ

17 אֵת קַלְעֵי הֶחָצֵר אֶת עַמֻּדָיו וְאֶת אֲדָנֶיהָ וְאֵת מָסַךְ שַׁעַר הֶחָצֵֽר

18 אֶת יִתְדֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶת יִתְדֹת הֶחָצֵר וְאֶת מֵיתְרֵיהֶֽם

19 אֶת בִּגְדֵי הַשְּׂרָד לְשָׁרֵת בַּקֹּדֶשׁ אֶת בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶת בִּגְדֵי בָנָיו לְכַהֵֽן

20 וַיֵּצְאוּ כׇּל עֲדַת בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִלִּפְנֵי מֹשֶֽׁה

21 וַיָּבֹאוּ כׇּל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר נְשָׂאוֹ לִבּוֹ וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר נָדְבָה רוּחוֹ אֹתוֹ הֵבִיאוּ אֶת תְּרוּמַת יְהֹוָה לִמְלֶאכֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּלְכׇל עֲבֹדָתוֹ וּלְבִגְדֵי הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ

22 וַיָּבֹאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עַל הַנָּשִׁים כֹּל נְדִיב לֵב הֵבִיאוּ חָח וָנֶזֶם וְטַבַּעַת וְכוּמָז כׇּל כְּלִי זָהָב וְכׇל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הֵנִיף תְּנוּפַת זָהָב לַיהֹוָֽה

23 וְכׇל אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא אִתּוֹ תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ וְעִזִּים וְעֹרֹת אֵילִם מְאׇדָּמִים וְעֹרֹת תְּחָשִׁים הֵבִֽיאוּ

24 כׇּל מֵרִים תְּרוּמַת כֶּסֶף וּנְחֹשֶׁת הֵבִיאוּ אֵת תְּרוּמַת יְהֹוָה וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא אִתּוֹ עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים לְכׇל מְלֶאכֶת הָעֲבֹדָה הֵבִֽיאוּ

25 וְכׇל אִשָּׁה חַכְמַת לֵב בְּיָדֶיהָ טָווּ וַיָּבִיאוּ מַטְוֶה אֶֽת הַתְּכֵלֶת וְאֶת הָֽאַרְגָּמָן אֶת תּוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וְאֶת הַשֵּֽׁשׁ

26 וְכׇל הַנָּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂא לִבָּן אֹתָנָה בְּחׇכְמָה טָווּ אֶת הָעִזִּֽים

27 וְהַנְּשִׂאִם הֵבִיאוּ אֵת אַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם וְאֵת אַבְנֵי הַמִּלֻּאִים לָאֵפוֹד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן

28 וְאֶת הַבֹּשֶׂם וְאֶת הַשָּׁמֶן לְמָאוֹר וּלְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְלִקְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּֽים

29 כׇּל אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה אֲשֶׁר נָדַב לִבָּם אֹתָם לְהָבִיא לְכׇל הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה הֵבִיאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נְדָבָה לַיהֹוָֽה

1 Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that GOD has commanded you to do:

2 On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to GOD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

3 You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the sabbath day.

4 Moses said further to the whole Israelite community: This is what GOD has commanded:

5 Take from among you gifts to GOD; everyone whose heart is so moved shall bring them—gifts for GOD: gold, silver, and copper;

6 Blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, and goats’ hair;

7 Tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, and acacia wood;

8 Oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense;

9 Lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and the breastpiece.

10 And let all among you who are skilled come and make all that GOD has commanded:

11 The Tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its clasps and its planks, its bars, its posts, and its sockets;

12 The ark and its poles, the cover, and the curtain for the screen;

13 The table, and its poles and all its utensils; and the bread of display;

14 The lampstand for lighting, its furnishings and its lamps, and the oil for lighting;

15 The altar of incense and its poles; the anointing oil and the aromatic incense; and the entrance screen for the entrance of the Tabernacle;

16 The altar of burnt offering, its copper grating, its poles, and all its furnishings; the laver and its stand;

17 The hangings of the enclosure, its posts and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;

18 The pegs for the Tabernacle, the pegs for the enclosure, and their cords;

19 The service vestments for officiating in the sanctuary, the sacral vestments of Aaron the priest and the vestments of his sons for priestly service.

20 So the whole Israelite community left Moses’ presence.

21 And everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit was moved came, bringing to GOD an offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service and for the sacral vestments.

22 Men and women, all whose hearts moved them, all who would make an elevation offering of gold to GOD, came bringing brooches, earrings, rings, and pendants uncertain; cf. Num. 31.50 . —gold objects of all kinds.

23 And everyone who possessed blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned ram skins, and dolphin skins, brought them;

24 Everyone who would make gifts of silver or copper brought them as gifts for GOD; and everyone who possessed acacia wood for any work of the service brought that.

25 And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen.

26 And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair.

27 And the chieftains brought lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece;

28 And spices and oil for lighting, for the anointing oil, and for the aromatic incense.

29 Thus the Israelites, all the men and women whose hearts moved them to bring anything for the work that GOD, through Moses, had commanded to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to GOD.