Weekly Torah Portion

PARSHAS Vayakhel 5784

We Did It - Together!

RABBI ARI FEDRGRUN

Director of Community
Engagement and Education

Over 360,000 dollars raised. More than 650 donors from across the world. Twenty-three teams of supporters in Orlando helped raise funds. Eighteen “matchers” from across the country. It was a thrilling 36 hours, as we saw so many people donate, and we were so grateful when we finally reached our goal.

Rabbi Gittleson mentioned at the end of the campaign in the JOIN Center in College Park that while we are very grateful to all of the donors who have given to JOIN financially, we are even more grateful for their belief in what we do and their excitement about our growth. It is thrilling to consider how passionate they are about how much more we can do for the Orlando Jewish community.

This week’s parsha describes the devotion of the Jewish people to the building of their new spiritual center, the Mishkan (Tabernacle). With excitement and passion, men and women brought their gold rings and bracelets to be used for the Mishkan’s structure. Other materials, such as wool, animal skins and various dyes were brought, as well.

Those who were skilled with the actual building and sewing helped with the physical construction of the Mishkan. The verse states, “Everyone whose heart had lifted him up came. Everyone whose spirit had moved him brought the uplifted donation.”

Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch, a leading 19th century German rabbi, explains the difference between those whose hearts had been lifted and those whose spirits had been moved. The heart being lifted reflects the attitude of a people who grasped the purpose of the enterprise of the Mishkan with all its glory and significance. The Jewish people felt personally elevated when partaking in this awesome cause.

One’s spirit being moved, explains Rav Hirsch, is more than an attitude. It is more than the power of thought and will, but rather something that impacts the whole being of a person. These people completely involved themselves and became totally dedicated to the cause.

While JOIN is not the awesome and holy structure of the Mishkan, and we pray daily for the rebuilding of our Temple, we know that so many of our donors have shared a similar attitude to the one described above.

JOIN connects Jews throughout Orlando via Torah education, connecting to our past, and building a community together for a flourishing future. By giving to JOIN, you become part of our mission, and we thank you for feeling a personal responsibility to help our cause. Most of all, though, we want to move your spirit.

We want to impact your whole being so you come and attend our amazing programs and classes. So that together, as one Orlando Jewish community, we can grow in our spiritual journey.

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