Our double Torah portion tells how the various parts of the tabernacle were fashioned, describes the erection of the building, the placing of all its appurtenances in their proper places, and ends with a financial report on the amounts of precious metals used and an inventory of the special textiles incorporated. Surprisingly, the Torah “interrupts” the account to instruct the Israelite on laws of Shabbat observance. However, these Shabbat laws are not really an interruption but a juxtaposition. Shabbat represents sacred time. The tabernacle represents sacred space.

Download or listen to the full Dvar Torah below.