Exodus 38:21–40:38
The name of the Parshah, "Pekudei," means "Amounts of" and it is found in Exodus 38:21.
An accounting is made of the gold, silver and copper donated by the people for the making of the Mishkan. Betzalel, Aholiav and their assistants make the eight priestly garments—the apron, breastplate, cloak, crown, hat, tunic, sash and breeches—according to the specifications communicated to Moses in the Parshah of Tetzaveh.
The Mishkan is completed and all its components are brought to Moses, who erects it and anoints it with the holy anointing oil, and initiates Aaron and his four sons into the priesthood. A cloud appears over the Mishkan, signifying the Divine Presence that has come to dwell within it.
This being the Shabbat that falls on or before the first of Nissan, we also read the section of Hachodesh (Exodus 12:1–20), which relates G‑d's words to Moses in Egypt two weeks before the Exodus, instructing us to set the Jewish calendar by the monthly new moon, and to regard Nissan as the "head of months." G‑d also instructs to bring the Passover offering, to eat it with matzah and bitter herbs, and to abstain from leaven for seven days.
Ezekiel 45:18-46:15.
This special haftorah is a prophecy regarding the Paschal Offering that will be brought during the Messianic Era, reflecting the theme of the Hachodesh Torah reading—Moses' command to the Israelites in Egypt to prepare and bring the Paschal lamb.
This haftorah is part of Ezekiel's prophecy regarding the third Holy Temple—its structure, inauguration and some of the practices that will be observed therein.
The haftorah begins with a description of the various sacrifices that will be offered during the Temple's seven-day inauguration ceremony, and then mentions that on the 14th of Nissan we shall bring the Paschal offering.
Much of the rest of the haftorah is devoted to the sacrifices that will be brought by the "leader," and prescribes his entry and exit from the Temple.
The months of the year are lunar months, as it is written: "This chodesh shall be for you the head of months." So said our sages: G‑d showed Moses the figure of the [new] moon in a prophetic vision, and said to him: "Thus you should see and sanctify."
However, the years which we figure are solar years, as it is written: "Keep the month of spring" [i.e., ensure that the month of Passover is always in the spring season].
The solar year is eleven days longer than a year of [twelve] lunar months. Therefore, when this surplus accumulates to the amount of 30 days—either a little more or a little less—they add an extra month, so that the year has 13 months; this is what is called a shanah meuberet ("pregnant year"). [This is done] because one cannot make the year to consist of so many months plus so many days, since the verse says, "[It shall be for you the first of] the months of the year"—implying that the year should consist of months, and months only.
The moon is concealed each month, and remains invisible for approximately two days—for about one day before it is closest to the sun, and about one day after it is closest to the sun—after which it can be seen in the west in the evening. The night on which it is visible in the west marks the beginning of the month, and one counts from that day 29 days. If the moon is visible on the eve of the 30th, then the 30th day is Rosh Chodesh ("head of the month"); if not, then the 31st day is Rosh Chodesh, and the 30th day belongs to the previous month.
(Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Sanctification of the Moon)
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The months of the year are lunar months, as it is written: "This chodesh shall be for you the head of months." So said our sages: G‑d showed Moses the figure of the [new] moon in a prophetic vision, and said to him: "Thus you should see and sanctify."
However, the years which we figure are solar years, as it is written: "Keep the month of spring" [i.e., ensure that the month of Passover is always in the spring season].
The solar year is eleven days longer than a year of [twelve] lunar months. Therefore, when this surplus accumulates to the amount of 30 days—either a little more or a little less—they add an extra month, so that the year has 13 months; this is what is called a shanah meuberet ("pregnant year"). [This is done] because one cannot make the year to consist of so many months plus so many days, since the verse says, "[It shall be for you the first of] the months of the year"—implying that the year should consist of months, and months only.
The moon is concealed each month, and remains invisible for approximately two days—for about one day before it is closest to the sun, and about one day after it is closest to the sun—after which it can be seen in the west in the evening. The night on which it is visible in the west marks the beginning of the month, and one counts from that day 29 days. If the moon is visible on the eve of the 30th, then the 30th day is Rosh Chodesh ("head of the month"); if not, then the 31st day is Rosh Chodesh, and the 30th day belongs to the previous month.
(Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Sanctification of the Moon)
Time is the first creation (see Sforno on Genesis 1:1); thus, the sanctification of time is the first mitzvah commanded to Israel.
(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
