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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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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
