{"id":72063,"date":"2020-03-19T17:53:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T15:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=72063"},"modified":"2022-06-06T17:05:28","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T14:05:28","slug":"vayakhel-the-womens-mirrors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/vayakhel-the-womens-mirrors\/","title":{"rendered":"Vayakhel: The Women’s Mirrors"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[368],"acf":{"old_id":"72063","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":46171,"related_cahpter":"1088","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"From vanity to atonement, repentance and purification\r\n\r\n","content":"

In the previous parasha<\/em> we learned about the enthusiasm with which the Israelites offered their gold jewelry to make the Golden Calf and the devastating results of that episode. Now Parashat Vayakhel<\/em> tells us of their generosity in connection with the building of the Tabernacle and its furnishings: \u201cMen and women all whose hearts moved them\u2026came bringing brooches, earrings, rings and pendants. Everyone who would make gifts of silver or copper brought them \u2026.\u201d (Exod. 35:22\u2013 24). The people brought these offerings of their own free will, and even gave more than was needed. We sense here that the Israelites wished to atone for their grievous sinning in connection with the Golden Calf.<\/p>\n

The text of this parasha<\/em> refers to the laver in only one verse: \u201cHe made the laver of copper and its stand of copper from the mirrors [mar\u2019ot<\/em>] of the women [ha\u2019tzov\u2019ot<\/em>] who performed tasks at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting\u201d (Exod. 38:8).<\/p>\n

Why does the text stress the fact that the copper for the laver was to be taken from the women\u2019s copper mirrors and not from other copper donated for the Tabernacle? Why did Moses choose to use mirrors, objects of feminine vanity, for making the vessel in which the priests would wash and purify?<\/p>\n

Avner Moriah\u2019s painting hints at the answers.<\/em> Of all of the Tabernacle\u2019s furnishings mentioned in this parasha<\/em>, he focuses on the laver, a sign of sanctity for the priests according to God\u2019s command previously: \u201cMake a laver of copper \u2026. And let Aaron and his sons wash their hands and feet there \u2026that they may not die\u201d (Exod. 30:18\u201319, 21).<\/p>\n

The group of women seen next to the laver facing the High Priest in both sections of the picture are in matching dresses, standing very closely together. On the right, each one is carrying a round copper-colored object, which suggests a mirror. As understood from the word ha\u2019tzov\u2019ot<\/em>, the verse refers to women assembling to serve at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Accepting their part in the Israelites\u2019 idolatry, which was punished by the death of so many of the people, the women, anxious to repent, were giving up their precious mirrors to make the laver for the priests\u2019 purification. Although it was not considered part of the Tabernacle furnishings, the laver was a very important part of the priestly ritual.<\/p>\n

In the image on the right, the women seem to be throwing their mirrors into a deep round vessel, under which we see a fire burning, so the copper will be melted down and then be used to form the laver. In the left-hand image, the High Priest is joyfully raising his arms, a sign of gratitude for the women\u2019s repentance and for their gifts, which will be used to shape the laver for the priests\u2019 ritual purification so that they will be able to obey God\u2019s command.<\/p>\n","image":{"ID":72071,"id":72071,"title":"22 Va-yakhel","filename":"22-Va-yakhel.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/22-Va-yakhel.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/vayakhel-the-womens-mirrors\/22-va-yakhel\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"22-va-yakhel","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":72063,"date":"2020-03-19 15:53:19","modified":"2020-03-19 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