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Assigned the ambitious task of "Artistic Director" of the entire project is Bezalel. A mere "Bar Mitzva boy" of 13, Betzalel had great skill working with precious metals & gems, woodwork, weaving & embroidery. He also, records the Torah, was "filled with the spirit of G-d, with wisdom, insight & Divine inspiration." Quite a resume!
But beyond the fact that Betzalel was clearly a child prodigy, a wunderkind, was there anything else which qualified him for this most prestigious position? What made him – above all others – worthy of the task?
Betzalel had a distinguished pedigree. He was the great-grandson of both Calev, who, along with Yehoshua, argued strenuously in favor of the nation entering Israel; & Miriam, Moshe’s older sister, who was a leader in her own right. And yet, despite this celebrated ancestry, Betzalel is not identified as Calev & Miriam’s descendant! In fact, his genealogy ends with his grandfather, Chur.
And therein lies our clue to why Betzalel was the one chosen by G-d.
The Torah hints to the secret of Betzalel’s greatness in two subtle ways, both by what it says & what it does NOT say. Each time Betzalel is mentioned, his lineage is traced back to Chur; yet when his assistant, Ohaliav, is spoken about, only his father’s name is given. Note, too, that the Torah introduces the appointment with the words: "See: Hashem has called him by name." I suggest that the unusual phrase, "by name," begs us to look at his name! And clearly, what stands out most about his name is the inclusion of grandfather Chur.
Who was Chur? We know that he, along with Yehoshua, held up Moshe’s hands when Yehoshua and the nation fought Amalek. But Chur would die a martyr’s death; he alone stood up to the people when they were building the Egel HaZahav & was murdered by the mob when he tried to stop them. This, I suggest, is the key.
Betzalel had an amazing breadth of knowledge of all things artistic. But he also inherited from his Saba Chur a fiery devotion to Hashem, a passionate love of G-d borne of courage & supreme conviction. THAT was the added quality, the "secret ingredient" that infused his art, the "ruach" which gave soul & substance to the inanimate objects of the Mishkan.
Chur gave his very life for Hashem, & that zeal lived on in his grandson’s handiwork, & made him the master artisan.
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D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
