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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Vayakhel
Parashat Vayakhel tells in a very repetitive, detailed manner that that which was commanded to be made and constructed in Parashat Teruma and some of Parashat Tetzaveh was done correctly. The people who were commanded to do the work are referred to almost entirely by pronouns. The commands, presumably addressed to Moshe, use primarily the word "v’asita" (second person singular). In several places, it says "v’asu" (third person plural). That presumably implies that when Moshe was not to do something, it was to be done by a group of other people.
In the meantime, the Torah introduces two people (Betzalel and Ohaliav) as well as a group of divinely inspired wise craftsmen (see Shemot 31:1-6). In our parasha, Moshe seems to be removed from the list of doers, and women were added to the list in regard to work with hides/fabrics (ibid. 35:25-29). In the description of the work, again it predominately uses pronouns instead of names, and the great majority of times the pasuk says "vaya’as" (third person singular), with a smattering of vaya’asu (third person plural).
The pasuk that stands out, after 31 p’sukim describing work done by the nameless, is "Betzalel made the ark" (ibid. 37:1). Why Betzalel is spelled out specifically here is the subject of a machloket between early commentators. Ibn Ezra (ad loc.) says that from this point on (the ark being the first of the vessels listed one after the other), the work, regarding all the vessels, was all done by Betzalel himself. Only in the previous section (the production of the structure of the Mishkan) were other people involved.
The Ramban (Shemot 36:8) says that Betzalel personally made only the ark. He explains that while, from the perspective of craftsmanship, the ark was one of the simpler vessels, it was the most spiritually profound one, which needed the special spiritual touch that Betzalel alone possessed. (It is interesting that under such circumstances, Moshe himself would not have built it.) According to both the Ibn Ezra and the Ramban, in many of the instances in which the Torah says "he made," it is not talking about Betzalel specifically, but one of the anonymous wise craftsmen. "They made" is certainly referring to any group of anonymous people.
In any case, there must be a reason that there is a great deal of inconsistency, with no apparent pattern, on whether to use the singular or the plural in describing the construction of the Mishkan. The simple and, I would argue, the correct explanation is that the tension between the individual and the collective is very much at the heart of the construction of the Mishkan. On the one hand, all had to be done "as Hashem commanded Moshe," without room for individual expression. On the other hand, in a matter so holy, even the same identical act of construction can be affected significantly by the sanctity and the mindset of the person who performs it (see Ketubot 5a). The craftsmen were thus at once acting as anonymous members of the nation and as unique, special individuals.
This tension between conformity and individuality is a part of all of our lives, in going about both our religious and our national obligations. May we be successful in finding the right balance.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
