Mishkan of dreams | Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Beit Midrash

Torah Portion and Tanach
Pkudei

קטגוריה משנית

"And Betzalel did all that Hashem commanded Moshe."

Rashi notes the strange way that this Pasuk is
structured. Rather than say, "Betzalel did all
that Moshe had commanded him" the verse intimates
that Betzalel somehow knew the (private)
discussions that were previously held between
Hashem & Moshe! What is going on here?

Rashi (Brachot 55) comments that Moshe & Betzalel
had a fundamental difference over the order of
the Mishkan’s building: Moshe thought to first
create the various objects to be placed in the
Mishkan - the Menora, Mizbeyach, Aron, etc) -
while Betzalel felt it is the building that must
first be constructed, & only then the objects
placed inside. Moshe demurred to Betzalel,
acknowledging that this, indeed, was the right
order & the one which Hashem had communicated to
him. "You certainly befit your name!" says Moshe,
"you are "B-Tzel-El," in the shadow of G-d," i.e.
as close to Hashem as a shadow, such that you
were able to hear His words spoken specifically to me.

There is much to say here. First, this episode is
indicative of Moshe’s amazing sense of
humility; the great man of Israel, more than 100
years old, is prepared to concede to a boy of 13!
And it shows Moshe’s Mida of Emet-Truth; if
Betzalel has it right, then that must be the way to go.

But another overriding principle is at work as
well: The house must take precedence, & be built
first, even before the most precious of its
furnishings. But friends, this does not only
apply to the Mishkan! The House of Israel, too,
needs to be built, & built up, before its various
parts can be assembled. We must create a society
that is based on Unity, love of our fellow Jew,
Chesed & Justice in which to house our most
precious objects - Jews of every type.

There is a well-known institute in Jerusalem with
numerous holy objects to be used in a future
Mishkan. Nearby is the site of the Bet HaMikdash,
& a bit further away is our seat of government. I
find it ironic & sad that the Kotel & Knesset,
which should be elevated places of commonality &
camaraderie, & symbols of our collective honor &
pride, are all-too often arenas of divisiveness,
political enmity & intra-Jewish strife.

Chazal discuss the many blessings that flow to us
from G-d. But these Brachot must have a home, a
receptacle, a crucible in which to reside. And
what is that? It is Shalom/Peace - both external
& internal. In fact, peace between our fellow
Jews far outweighs peace between us & the outside
world. And that is our greatest, most pressing
challenge: to construct a national home for all of Am Yisrael built on Unity.

If we build it, they - the Brachot, as well as
all the Jewish People – will surely come.

Pkudei