From the women of the Golden Calf to Iran’s women’s soccer team, quiet acts of courage can move history

I pray in two places every week: the synagogue and the soccer stadium, Surprisingly, I have learned something about faith in both. In this week’s double Torah portion: Vayakhel–Pekudei, The Torah describes the construction of the Mishkan, the sanctuary in the desert. The people are invited to bring materials for its building, and the Torah goes out of its way to mention the women:

And every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands, and they brought the spun yarn- blue, purple, and crimson thread (Exodus 35:25)

And every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands, and they brought the spun yarn- blue, purple, and crimson thread (Exodus 35:25)

Yet this moment raises an intriguing question. Where were these women just a few chapters earlier? In the story of the Golden Calf, Aaron asks the people to bring gold:

Remove the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me (Exodus 32:2)

Remove the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)