For Those

Leann Shamash
6 hours ago
4 min read

#vayakhel #forthose #volunteering #helping #parshatvayakhel #pekudei #vayakhelpekudei #thecandygiver

For some of you who have been following this blog for a while, you will perhaps recognize this as a post from 2022. Here we are in 2026 and I think it is worthwhile to repost this as it is as true today as it was then.

The combined Parshiyot of Vayakhel/Pekudei complete Sefer Shemot (Exodus) in a quietly magnificent way. The Mishkan is complete and Moshe gives it his blessing. In Vayakhel/Pekudei no one is complaining, no one makes a grievous error and all is well and beautiful and the Mishkan is completed with the loving contributions of the community.

How often do we find ourselves in this peaceful state of completion, this peaceful pause? For a while in Gan Eden, before an error of judgement is made, and on the Sabbath, which, not surprisingly is mentioned in Parshat Vayakhel.

On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to GOD;..........

Exodus 35:8

And now, as we close Exodus is a period of quiet and peace.

I'd like to think of these Parshiyot as the Parshiyot of Peaceful Pauses and in the case of where we stand now, pauses that showcase the pride of a successfully completed project , especially when it is when it is a valued joint effort.

I hope that this Shabbat you will imagine a fine line that stretches from the Shabbat of Parshat Vaykhel to the Shabbat that you experience now and then imagine a second line, a golden thread that connects the ancient mishkan with your own synagogue. Whether your synagogue is urban or suburban, large or small, wealthy or struggling, each of these places are connected to the Mishkan and, as we will explore this week, it is through the goodness of others that they are lovingly maintained.

Below, the poem is combined with the Yekum Purkan prayer below. This is the prayer that thanks the scholars on Shabbat directly following the reading of the Haftarah. The prayer continues to thank those who help make the synagogue run. Perhaps you can you see yourself here. Perhaps you are the candy person or perhaps you are the accountant or the person who makes sure there is a minyan each day. Do you see yourself?

In 2022, I dedicated this to the lightbulb changer, Denis and this year I will add Freddie, may his memory be for a blessing. There are too many other names to mention here, but I hope you find yourself in the prayer below.. Thank you for what you do and what you give. You are that line that connects past to present and present to future and we wouldn't be here without you.

Thank you and Shabbat Shalom,

Leann

מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבותֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקב. הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת כָּל הַקָּהָל הַקָּדושׁ הַזֶּה עִם כָּל קְהִלּות הַקּדֶשׁ.

For those who come in early and open the doors.

For those who make sure the Torah is rolled to the right place.

For those who change the lightbulbs,

dust the prayerbooks, polish the silver, fix the broken doors.

For those who hand out candy to the children.

הֵם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וּבְנותֵיהֶם וְכָל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם.

For those who create programs to keep people together.

For those who worry about financial viability.

For those who recall the past and plan for the future.

For those who make the annual reports and lead.

וּמִי שֶׁמְּיַחֲדִים בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּות לִתְפִלָּה. בְּתוכָם לְהִתְפַּלֵּל.

For those who remember traditions.

For those who innovate.

For those who dedicate.

For those who sponsor.

וּמִי שֶׁבָּאִים וּמִי שֶׁנּותְנִים נֵר לַמָּאור וְיַיִן לְקִדּוּשׁ וּלְהַבְדָּלָה וּפַת לְאורְחִים וּצְדָקָה לָעֲנִיִּים.

For those who teach.

For those who learn.

For those who stand guard.

For those who greet.

For those who lead and for those who follow.

וְכָל מִי שֶׁעוסְקִים בְּצָרְכֵי צִבּוּר בֶּאֱמוּנָה.

For those who beautify.

For those who launder.

For those who scrub and clean.

For those who cook and bake and serve.

For those who organize and those who participate.

הַקָּדושׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יְשַׁלֵּם שכָרָם וְיָסִיר מֵהֶם כָּל מַחֲלָה וְיִרְפָּא לְכָל גּוּפָם וְיִסְלַח לְכָל עֲונָם

For those who give their money.

For those who give their time.

For those who give their energy.

For those who have ideas.

For those who implement those ideas.

. וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשה יְדֵיהֶם

For those who read the torah.

For those who blow shofar.

For those who build the sukkah.

For those who lead the prayers.

For those who make a tenth.

For those who say amen.

For those who sing.

For those whose voices raise us up.

For those who show up.

עִם כָּל יִשרָאֵל אֲחֵיהֶם.

For those who welcome visitors warmly

For those who make others feel comfortable

For those who volunteer with a smile

For those who ask not what you can do for them,

but what can they do for you

and ask for nothing in return

וְנאמַר אָמֵן:

The Translation of the Yekum Purkan/Mishebeyrach*

He Who blessed our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, will bless this entire holy congregation together with all the holy congregations, them, their wives and their sons and their daughters, and all that belong to them. Whoever dedicates synagogues for prayer, and whoever enters them to pray, and whoever donates lamps for lighting, wine for Kiddush and Havdalah, food for wayfarers, charity for the poor; and whoever occupies himself with the needs of the community— in a faithful manner— The Holy One, blessed is He, will pay them their reward, remove from them all sickness, heal their entire body, pardon all their iniquities, and send blessing, and success upon all the work of their hands, together with all of Israel, their brethren, and let us say, Amen. (Translation from Sefaria)

PS- I'd love more photos of synagogues to add to this album. Do you have a photo from your synagogue that you would be willing to share?