Why in ויקהל is the mitzvah of Shabbos juxtaposed to the building of the Mishkan?
Rashi (quotes Mechilta) says that these two are put together to show that even something as important as the building of the Mishkan doesn’t push off the mitzvah of Shabbos.
The Rav also gives an idea and says that throughout the Torah we see concepts of the Mikdash and Shabbos together. For example, “שבתותי תשמרו and מקדשי תיראו”. He continues to say that these ideas are intertwined and represent two sanctuaries. Shabbos which is bound by time and the Mikdash which is bound by space. One can’t just walk away and leave Shabbos, but one can get up and walk out of a sukkah, which is bound by its place. This idea of these sanctuaries being connected shows that there are two different levels of kedusha (time and space) that can often be seen together.
What are some other reasons why the mitzvah of Shabbos is said next to the building of the Mishkan?
The Gemara and Rashi in Shabbos comment that a person is guilty of violating Shabbos if he engages in work for the Mishkan. For example, using herbs to make dyes for drapes or working the field containing the herbs. Rabbi Schneur Zalman adds and says that the working on the Mishkan is the type of work which is not allowed on Shabbos; using physical objects to build a sanctuary for Hashem.
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