Practice Parashat Pekudei with TropeTrainer
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Parashat Pekudei - פָּרָשַׁת פְקוּדֵי
Pekudei (“Accountings Of”) is the final Torah reading in the Book of Exodus. It describes the making of priestly garments worn in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the completion of its construction. At God’s command, Moses erects the Mishkan and puts its vessels in place, and God's presence fills the Mishkan.
Torah Portion: Exodus 38:21-40:38
Parashat Pekudei is the 23rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on March 13th, 2027 / 4 Adar II 5787
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
38:21 - 39:1· 12 p’sukim
2:
39:2 - 39:21· 20 p’sukim
3:
39:22 - 39:32· 11 p’sukim
4:
39:33 - 39:43· 11 p’sukim
5:
40:1 - 40:16· 16 p’sukim
6:
40:17 - 40:27· 11 p’sukim
7:
40:28 - 40:38· 11 p’sukim
Maftir:
40:34 - 40:38· 5 p’sukim
Haftarah for Sephardim:
I Kings 7:40 - 7:50· 11 p’sukim
Haftarah for Ashkenazim:
I Kings 7:51 - 8:21· 22 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 1
Read Together in 2026/5786
Vayakhel and Pekudei are read together for Triennial Year 1.
- Triennial Year 2
March 13th, 2027
1:
38:21 - 38:23· 3 p’sukim
2:
38:24 - 38:27· 4 p’sukim
3:
38:28 - 39:1· 5 p’sukim
4:
39:2 - 39:7· 6 p’sukim
5:
39:8 - 39:14· 7 p’sukim
6:
39:15 - 39:18· 4 p’sukim
7:
39:19 - 39:21· 3 p’sukim
Maftir:
39:19 - 39:21· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
I Kings 8:10 - 8:21· 12 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 3
Read Together in 2028/5788
Vayakhel and Pekudei are read together for Triennial Year 3.
About Parashat Parashat Pekudei
Beyond the building narrative, Pekudei is fundamentally about accountability and transparency: it opens with Moses delivering a precise public audit of every measure of gold, silver, and copper donated for the Mishkan, showing that each contribution was tracked and used as intended. A second theme is faithful obedience in craftsmanship, underscored by the portion's recurring refrain that the vestments and vessels were made "as the Lord commanded Moses." The parashah also closes the Book of Exodus on a note of completion and consecration, and its climax is divine indwelling, the moment God's presence fills the finished sanctuary. Read across the whole book, Exodus arcs from the Israelites losing their home in Egyptian slavery to joyously completing a new home, a dwelling place for God's presence among the people.
The Haftarah
The Haftarah for Pekudei is drawn from King Solomon's completion and dedication of the First Temple in Jerusalem, though the exact selection varies by rite. In most Ashkenazi communities the reading is 1 Kings 7:51-8:21, in which Solomon assembles the elders, the Ark is installed, and Solomon delivers his consecration speech. In many Sephardi communities the reading is 1 Kings 7:40-50, listing the bronze Temple furnishings crafted by Hiram of Tyre (the same passage that serves as the Ashkenazi Haftarah for the preceding portion, Vayakhel). The thematic link is the parallel of a newly completed sanctuary overwhelmed by God's presence: just as "the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-35), so "the glory of the Lord filled the House" of the Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). Note that when Pekudei coincides with a special Sabbath such as Shekalim, Parah, or HaChodesh, a substitute Haftarah (typically from Ezekiel) is read instead; check your community's custom and chumash, as boundaries can differ slightly.
Notable passages and verses
The portion's most famous passage is its climactic close (Exodus 40:34-38): "The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle," ending with the image of the cloud over the Mishkan by day and fire in it by night, "in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys." These verses describe the cloud that guided Israel's travels: when it lifted they journeyed on, and when it settled they stayed. Nachmanides (Ramban) famously reads "journeys" here to teach that the redemption from Egypt was not truly complete at the Exodus itself, but only once the Mishkan stood filled with God's glory. Because Pekudei concludes the Book of Exodus, finishing it triggers the congregational custom of reciting "Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek" ("Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another"). Pekudei is the 11th and final portion of Exodus (Exodus 38:21-40:38); in common years it is paired with Vayakhel as Vayakhel-Pekudei, while in Jewish leap years the two are read separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is Parashat Pekudei about?
Pekudei ("Accountings Of") is the final portion of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 38:21-40:38). It begins with Moses giving a detailed public accounting of the gold, silver, and copper donated for the Mishkan (Tabernacle), describes the making of the priestly vestments and sacred vessels "as the Lord commanded Moses," and ends with Moses erecting the Mishkan and God's presence filling it. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading chanted with its trope.
What is the Haftarah for Pekudei?
The Haftarah comes from Solomon's dedication of the First Temple. In most Ashkenazi communities it is 1 Kings 7:51-8:21 (Solomon's consecration of the Temple), while in many Sephardi communities it is 1 Kings 7:40-50 (the bronze Temple furnishings made by Hiram of Tyre); rites and printed chumashim can differ, and a special Sabbath may substitute an Ezekiel reading. The link to the portion is the image of God's glory filling a newly completed sanctuary. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice the Haftarah with its trope.
What are the main themes of Pekudei?
Pekudei centers on accountability and transparency (Moses's public audit of the Tabernacle donations), faithful obedience in craftsmanship (everything made "as the Lord commanded Moses"), and completion and divine indwelling as God's presence fills the finished Mishkan. It also brings the Book of Exodus full circle, from slavery in Egypt to a home for God's presence among Israel. You can hear and practice the full reading with trope on TropeTrainer.
Why are Vayakhel and Pekudei sometimes read together?
In common (non-leap) Jewish years the calendar has fewer Sabbaths, so Vayakhel and Pekudei are combined into a single reading, Vayakhel-Pekudei; in leap years they are read on separate Sabbaths. When combined, the Pekudei Haftarah is the one read. Whether they fall together or apart in a given year, TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice each reading with its trope.
Where to go next
Open a sample Torah reading with full Hebrew text, trope marks, and audio to see how TropeTrainer works.
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
Work through guided lessons on Torah trope cantillation, from basic symbols to advanced phrase patterns.