Vayakhel – Fixing the Sin of the Golden Calf

Moses assembled the Israelite community and said, "These are the words that God has commanded for you to do... build the Temple."

Jews have previously assembled (ויקהלו) against Aaron, forcing him to create a Golden Calf. Now, Moses had to assemble (ויקהל) them to return them to their spiritual source by bringing them closer to himself.

Moses had to assemble the whole congregation. The essence of this generation was knowledge (הדעת). However, the mixed multitude (ערב רב) also had its strength in knowledge. In fact, their gematria is the same as knowledge.

ערב רב = 70 + 200 + 2 + 200 + 2 = 474 (erev rav, mixed multitutude)

דעת =  4 + 70 + 400 = 474 (knowledge)

Only by bringing them close to himself could Moses separate knowledge from knowledge.

Since they sinned with the words "these," saying, "These are your gods, O Israel." Moses had to correct this with "these," stating, "These are the words." Since by worshiping the Golden Calf, they denied the whole Torah, Moses had to correct it with two things which are also considered as the entire Torah – Shabbat (for one who observes Shabbat is considered to observe the whole Torah) and the building of the Temple.

Therefore, Moses told them, "Six days shall you work - as a commandment, not as a permission. Since they are sanctified by building the Temple for six days of the week, they will ie sanctified with extra holiness and receive an additional soul on the seventh day.

Art: Alexander Johnston - The Sabbath Eve