PARSHA-PIX - Parshat Vayakhel

Parsha Pix
In the Upper-right is a pair of Shabbat candle sticks, and to their left is a match in a negation circle. Both relate to the opening three p’sukim of the sedra, the reminder about Shabbat and the punishment for its violation. The combination of the “no lighting fire” with the Shabbat candles makes an important point.
LO T'VA'ARU EISH... can give the distorted impression that the ban on lighting fire means that we must spend Shabbat in darkness (as the Tzidokim claim). The Shabbat candles remind us that lighting up our homes (in a Shabbat-acceptable manner) is very much a mitzva, and not at all at odds with the prohibition of LO T'VA'ARU.
In the upper-left is a U.S. penny (made of copper), a gold ring, and (a little further down on the left side) a set of silverware, represnting the three named precious metals of the Mishkan.
Between the ring and the silverware is a log being sawed with a chain-saw. This stands for the ATZEI SHITIM, the acacia wood that was used in the making of the wallboards, Aron, Shulchan, and the two Altars. None of that wood showed because of the plating (gold or copper) involved. For the poles of the courtyard, however, the wood was visible beneath the silver decorative bands, hooks, and caps.
To the right of the log is a flask of olive oil, for the Menora, the anointing oil, and for the Menachot that accompanied many of the korbanot in the Mikdash.
The mortar and pestle was used to make the spices for the Ketoret and the anointing oil.
Under the candle sticks is a rack with bolts of fabric for the curtains, coverings, and the garments of the kohanim. Similarly, the yarn and knitting needles to the left of the fabric.
Below the fabric are three gems from among the 12 for the CHOSHEN and two for the shoulder straps of the EIFOD.
The octagon is a stop sign, as in no morte materials now please - we have more than enough.
In the lower-right is the Davka grphic of the Mishkan with the MASACH for its entrance, the AMUDIM that flanked the MASACH, the OROT that was the topmost covering of the Mishkan (here depicted as only on the top but not down the sides of the Mishkan - there are different opinions about that). The long side visible shows the OHEL, itself covering from sight the MISHKAN. The silver ADANIM are visible along the bottom of that long wall. (The picture shows more in the color version found on the TT website; the hard copy is black and white and not of the greatest quality.)
The half-shekel is for the Maftir. And that leaves the hard-to-make-out picture in the lower-left. Hopefully, it is easier to see on the web. So instead of making you guess what it is, we’ll tell you. One of the many species of weaver birds is seen hovering beneath its unique nest, which is hanging from a tree branch. The weaver bird – interestingly, only the male – skillfully weaves a nest. The weaver bird is the only creature in the world - besides humans - that can weave. It is truly one of G-d’s wonders, and it reminds us of the skill of the weavers for the Mishkan.

TTRIDDLES...
are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout, usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles section. Some TTriddles are also presented for call-in solution on Torah Tidbits Audio (Arutz-7, Thursday night). The best solution set submitted each week (there isn't always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal

Last week’s (KI TISA) TTriddles:
[1] 28.6% of Ne'ila
[2] Skip 44 to make it fast
[3] Who offered half of what was commanded twice in this week's sedra?
[4] 24, 25 days later, many more than just him
[5] Thrice; twice for Minhag Yerushalayim
[6] In the parsha, NO and in the haftara, YES

And the envelope please...
First, as some solvers correctly noted, there was a piece of one of the previous week’s TTriddles that was left by mistake on page 17. They wisely chose to ignore it.
[1] Seems this was an easy one, based on the number of solvers who got this one. At the end of the haftara, the people proclaim HASHEM HU HA’ELOKIM, HASHEM HU HA’ELOKIM! This is twice out of the seven times we say this phrase at the conclusion of Ne’ila. 2/7 is approx. 28.6%.
[2] This one too was solved correctly by many solvers. The Torah reading of fast days — that’s for Tish’a b’Av Mincha and twice each for the other fast days — is from Ki Tisa. It is a rare (unique) reading that involves a skipping of p’sukim between the first and second Aliya. Specifically, by skipping 44 p’sukim, we “make it fast”, i.e. a fast day’s reading.
[3] Less easy. Only two solvers got it. G-d commands the kohanim to was their hands and feet before service in the Mishkan. The command appears twice within the portion of the “KIYOR V’KANO”. Both Avraham and Lot offered the angels that came to visit them, water to wash their feet. That’s who offered half of what the kohanim are twice-commanded to do.
[4] 24, 25 days later than last Shabbat is Purim and Shushan (Yerushalayim) Purim. In the sedra, it is Moshe Rabeinu that wears a mask. Just him. On Purim, “many more than just him” will be wearing masks. One solver added a nice touch to this TTriddle with another suggestion. Moshe’s face radiated with the Light of Torah, as mentioned in the sedra. In the Megila, we read that “for the Jews, there was Light... LA’YEHUDIM HAY’TA ORA V’SIMCHA... So may it be for us.
[5] V’SHA-M’RU V’NEI YISRA-EL ET HASHABAT... This two-pasuk piece from the end of the first Aliya of Ki Tisa is said in Maariv of Friday night, right before the Amida (but not according to Minhag Yerushalayim, based on the opinions of the Vilna Gaon). It is also part of the Shacharit Amida. And it is one of the introductory passages to Kiddush of Shabbat morning. Hence, it is said thrice or twice.
[6] In the sedra, we are told that during the forty days and forty nights that Moshe spent on Har Sinai, he did not eat or drink. Neither bread nor water. The haftara mentions that Ovadyahu hid 100 prophets in caves, (50 in each of two, apparently), and sustained then with bread and water. This was during a famine, and during the period when prophets were being murdered.
Several of the regular solvers did well this week, but top honors (and the two prizes) go to EB for his near perfect solution set.

This week's TTriddles:
[1] In a fortnight plus, his grandfather's head gets big
[2] Looks like the carpenter was deaf
[3] Moshe - Shabbat & Mishkan; Similarly who - what?
[4] Route 652, named for him and his father

[The Parshat Vayahkel Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]