Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei 5767

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

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Moshe gathered the people to speak to them about the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. He also reiterated the laws of Shabbos to them and explained that although the Mishkan was important, Shabbos was even more important and could not be desecrated even for the purpose of constructing the Mishkan.

He instructed the Jewish people about the different materials and skills that would be needed for building the Mishkan. Although they had not been required to donate anything, the response was overwhelming. The men and women brought so much gold and expensive jewelry that there was a surplus of what was needed and Moshe discouraged them from bringing more. Similarly, many people offered their services to assist in the construction of the Mishkan and its vessels. This enthusiasm was necessary to atone for the misplaced enthusiasm the people had shown when they brought their jewelry at the sin of the Golden Calf.

Betzalel, who was a grandson of Chur, oversaw the construction of the Mishkan. Chur, the Talmud explains, had stood up against the nation when they had first demanded the Golden Calf. He had sharply rebuked them for failing to show the proper faith in Moshe and G-d. At the height of the rebellion Chur was murdered. It was therefore quite appropriate that the construction of the Mishkan, which would atone for the Golden Calf, should take place under Chur’s grandson’s direction.

After the Mishkan was completed, Moshe was told to inaugurate the dedication. This was a seven-day ceremony in which Moshe erected the Mishkan, performed the service, and then dismantled it each day. On the eighth day, the first day of Nissan, the Mishkan was erected permanently and Aharon took over as the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest.

The Rabbis relate that Moshe was unable to lift the heavy construction by himself. He asked G-d how it was possible to request something of him that he was physically incapable of doing. G-d told Moshe that He only wanted him to put forth his best effort and that the Mishkan would erect itself. This is alluded to in the passage that “the Mishkan was erected”(Exod. 40:17), not that Moshe erected it.

The implicit message in this is that G-d only expects man to put forth his best effort to try and create a bastion of holiness for G-d’s Presence to reside. Once he tries his hardest, however, G-d Himself will complete the task for him.

Interestingly enough, the Torah later says that Moshe constructed the Mishkan. Once Moshe put forth his best effort, although G-d did the work, Moshe was credited with the success.

“These are the reckonings of the Tabernacle.. .” (Ex. 38:21)

The commentaries understand the passage that only what one designates to serve G-d can truly be counted as one’s assets. Ben Ish Chai offers a parable.

A father was trying to teach his son subtraction. “If there were ten birds sitting on a ledge, and a hunter came and shot one of the birds, how many birds would be left?” he asked.

“One” the boy answered.

“One?” the father asked, somewhat exasperated. “If one died, there would be nine left.”

“But Dad,” the boy pointed out, “If the hunter shot one, the others would all fly away and only the dead one would remain.”

Money too flies away and can be spent quickly. Only what one uses to serve G-d remains to assist a person when he truly needs it.

Did You Know...

The prohibition during Pesach of eating or owning chometz refers to food items made from a combination of flour with water.

Other liquids do not cause the same type of leavening as water. Nevertheless, the accepted custom is to refrain from eating egg matzo during Pesach. This is because of the possibility of water being mixed in besides the eggs and juice, thus causing the food to become leavened, possibly in even less than the normal amount of time necessary.

The Halachic authorities do permit egg matzo for the ill or the elderly, who may not be able to digest regular matzo.