ChaBaD Jewish Calendar Thursday, March 16, 2023 23 Adar, 5783
ChaBaD Jewish Calendar Thursday, March 16, 2023 23 Adar, 5783 Torah Reading Vayak'hel: Exodus 35:1-20 Jewish History Mishkan assembled; 7 "days of training" (1312 BCE) The Children of Israel began building the " Mishkan " (also called the "Tabernacle"--a portable sanctuary to house the Divine presence in their midst as they journeyed through the desert) on the 11th of Tishrei of the year 2449 from creation (1312 BCE) -- six months after their Exodus from Egypt, four months after the revelation at Sinai , and 80 days after their worship of the Golden Calf . The construction of the Mishkan, which followed a detailed set of instructions issued to Moses on Mount Sinai, lasted 74 days, and was completed on the 25th of Kislev ; but the Divine command to erect the edifice came only three months later, on the 23rd of Adar, when Moses was instructed to begin a 7-day " training period." During the week of Adar 23-29, the Mishkan was erected each