Parshat Vayakhel begins with Moshe gathering kol adat Bnei Yisrael—every single Jew: men, women, and children. This wasn’t just another speech. It was a moment of unity. The Mishkan would be built through the collective effort of Am Yisrael, but before any work could begin, Moshe emphasized one crucial point: Shabbos.

The connection between Shabbos and the Mishkan is profound. The Mishkan represents Hashem’s dwelling in this world. Shabbos is me’ein Olam Haba, a taste of the ultimate redemption. Just as the Mishkan brought Hashem’s presence into our midst, Shabbos lifts us beyond the physical, giving us a glimpse of a world of complete closeness to Hashem.

Shabbos and Geula

Chazal teach that if Bnei Yisrael would keep Shabbos properly, Mashiach would come immediately. Why? Because Shabbos is a declaration that we place our faith in Hashem alone.

Moshe explicitly forbids only one melacha:
“Lo teva’aru eish b’chol moshvoteichem b’yom haShabbat”—”Do not kindle a fire in all your dwellings on Shabbos.”

Why fire? Because fire represents preparation—especially food preparation, the foundation of oneg Shabbos. Chazal teach:
“One who prepares before Shabbos will eat on Shabbos.”
Just as we must prepare for Shabbos, we must prepare for Olam Haba and the Geula.

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We Are Living in Erev Shabbos – Let’s Finish Our Preparations

The Vilna Gaon explains that just as the six days of creation and of the week parallel 6,000 years of history, the seventh day—Shabbos—represents the seventh millennium, the era of Mashiach.

From 5750 (1990) onward, we entered the final 250 years of the sixth millennium—the equivalent of Friday afternoon. Just as Erev Shabbos is the most intense time of preparation, we are now in the final moments before Geula. Now is the time to prepare.

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Be’ito or Achishena – The Choice is Ours

The Gemara in Sanhedrin presents two paths for Mashiach’s arrival:

• Be’ito – The Geula will come at the set time (by the year 6000), even if we are not worthy.
• Achishena – If we prepare properly, Hashem will hasten the redemption.

Just as we can bring in Shabbos early from Plag HaMincha, we can bring Geula early through Achdut, Ahavat Yisrael, Shabbat, Torah, and Mitzvot.

What are we waiting for? Let’s take in early Yom Shekulo Shabbos!