Last Call for Exodus!

Vayakhel-Pekudei is the last portion in the Book of Exodus.  In some years, these two portions are combined; in some years they are separate portions.I thought I would stay with the Baal HaTurim, and then let's see who we pick for next week!

In Vayakhel, we an important juxtaposition of verses: On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for God; whoever does work on it shall be put to death.  You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day. (Exodus 35:2-3)  These two verses juxtaposed against the following several verses provide both the commandment against lighting a fire and (according to the Talmud) the various forbidden labors on Shabbat.  

The Baal HaTurim makes two points.  First, he suggests that the number of forbidden labors, 39, can be deduced from the gematria (numerical value) of the Hebrew word 'la-asot,' which arranged in a certain way adds up to 39.  OK, great!

A more interesting nugget, in my view, is the Baal's comment on verse 3 (about kindling fire):  "The Holy One Blessed be He said, 'My fire, that is to say the fire of Gehinnom (Hebrew for 'Hell') rests on your behalf on the Sabbath, so too, your fire should rest on the Sabbath.' WOW!

Why would the fires of Hell rest on Shabbat?  The Zohar is instructive for we learn that even the sinful ones being punished there also find rest.  I bet many of you are surprised about that!