It's all in the details

Vayakel-Pekude

Exodus 35:1 - 40:38

Précis: In Vayakel,Moses instructs the People again on the laws of Shabbat, and asks for a donation of gifts (both of material and service) for the construction of the Tabernacle. The appointment of the construction leaders is also included, and the construction begins. There are again specific descriptions of implements, articles, and of the Ark itself.

In Pekude, we read the final parasha of the Book of Exodus. It begins with an inventory of the items used in the construction of the Tabernacle, as well as the vessels and clothing collected by Moses and Aaron. When the accounts are squared, the completed structure is blessed. The Ark is placed within the Tabernacle, as are the various holy vessels, and a cloud of glory descends and covers the tent.

Exodus 40:1-7: "And God spoke to Moses, saying: On the first day of the first month shall you set up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. And you shall put in it the Ark of the Testimony, and hang the veil before the Ark. And you shall bring in the table, and set in order the things upon it; and you shall bring in the candlestick, and light its lamps. And you shall set the altar of gold for incense before the Ark of the Testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle. And you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting…”

The reading in the final parasha of the book of Shemot is one of “details.” It seems, on the surface, to be little more than a recapitulation of what has been recorded once (or even twice) before about the building of the Mishkan.

In earlier parshiot, God instructed Moses on building the Mishkan (and its various ritual items). In Vayakhel, we read about their construction and fashioning. In Pekude, we have an “accounting” of the materials used in the effort.

By tradition, every word and phrase in Torah has meaning. Why this seeming repetition? It is possible that the details of construction are not really that important. Rather, we should focus on the recitation of details. That is to say, by repetition the text may be telling us that details are what really matter in life.

The concept that even the smallest details matter underlies the traditional understanding of the role of mitzvot (commandments). What some see (disparagingly) as ritual minutia, others observe that the attention to the smallest details is a way to construct a valuable “whole.” Some say that traditionalists miss the forest for the trees. The observant respond that holiness is in the details. 

In our roles as Jewish professionals, attention to detail is mandatory. While we always need to keep the “big picture” in sight, we need to recognize that without attention to myriad details, we’ll never reach our goals. Midrash suggests that through the performance of all of the mitzvot, the world can be redeemed. While we may not be able to redeem the world, it’s clear that our tradition urges us to pay attention to even the “small stuff” if we are to succeed in strengthening and enhancing our communities.