Parshat Pekudei | Vestments for Courage in a Time of Idolatry
This week’s Torah portion, Pekudei, tells of the Israelites completing the Mishkan, the Tabernacle—a sacred space for Divine presence. Crafted from the same materials as the Golden Calf, the Mishkan becomes a homeopathic remedy, transforming misguided yearning into holy connection.
Aaron’s vestments—also made from these remnants—serve as a spiritual repair for his own complicity. They fortify him to stand before the Divine with courage and clarity.
Today, we face modern forms of idolatry: the worship of nation-states, carried out through genocide, silencing dissent, and targeting immigrants—all in the name of “security.”
🔹 What are the remedies we need today?
🔹 What vestments will give us the strength to resist empire and reclaim our humanity?
🔹 How can we build sacred spaces where the Divine dwells among us once more?
People are rising up. From U.S. streets to the rubble of Gaza, resistance and rebuilding are already happening. The sumud—steadfastness—of Palestinians and those around the world refusing to give in to fear is a healing balm for us all.
✨ May you find time this Shabbat to connect with the Divine within and around you.
✨ May you show up as your most full and courageous self.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Cat Zavis
Rabbi Cat’s Musings on When the Palace Is Not Safe: Purim, Patriarchy, and the Cost of Proximity to Power
Rabbi Cat challenges the themes of Purim, contextualizing them within systems of power, complicity, and sexual exploitation.
