Pardes from Jerusalem
Pardes from Jerusalem
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Vayakhel-Pehudei 5786: Sacred Reflection
33 minutes Posted Mar 8, 2026 at 9:58 am.
0:00
33:44
Download MP3
Show notes
Can self-reflection become a path to holiness?
In this episode, Zvi Hirschfield and Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash explore Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei through a striking detail of the Mishkan: the women’s mirrors used to create the basin for the priests. Drawing on Midrash and interpretation, they reflect on how mirrors symbolize self-awareness and identity—reminding us that serving God begins with knowing who we are. The conversation asks how self-reflection, relationships, and moral intention can transform ordinary human awareness into sacred service.