THE ARTISTS
In this week’s Parsha, Vayakheil-Pikudei, the Torah recounts the building of the Mishkan. Even though all the details were elaborately discussed in the previous Parshios of Terumah-Tetzaveh, nevertheless these details are repeated this week in the context of their fulfillment. Considering the amount of text that is repeated the question becomes difficult to understand why did the Torah not write in one simple sentence that everything that was commanded was done. This verse is used in many other instances. Why not use it here as well?
Another compelling question must be asked. HaShem tells Moshe that Betzalel and Ahaliev would be in charge of the construction of the Mishkan. As such, the Torah teaches us that HaShem endowed these two builders along with all those who participated in the construction with great wisdom and deep understanding. Why? It is certainly necessary to endow these individuals with great talent and much skill, but what is the function of great wisdom and deep understanding?
The answer is that every endeavor a person undertakes carries within it the depth of character and the intentions of that person. Let us take art as an ex-ample. The thoughts of the artist are manifest in his artwork. The motivation that drove the artist to make the painting are manifest in his work. Take two artists who are of equal talent and skill. One artist has a very deep philoso-phical soul and is always engaged in meaningful thought and the other artist is a very simple soul who lives his life on the surface never giving much thought to anything meaningful. They both paint a picture of the sunset. The painting made by the philosophical painter will be much more inspiring than the painting of the other artist.
The Mishkan was to be the place on Earth where HaShem’s Presence was to be manifest. A person entering the Mishkan would have such a stark awareness of HaShem’s Presence that his life would change from just that single visit. Every detail of the physical structure car-ried within it deep meaning. It’s meaning was so sublime that even if the visitor did not comprehend the message of those details, they nevertheless made an impression on the visitor. In order for the Mishkan to project these Divine impressions it was necessary for those who constructed it to be endowed with this Divine wisdom and understanding.
When reading the Parshios of Terumah-Tetzave the words describing the instructions for the Mishkan are almost identical to the words describing the actual construction found in our Parshios of Vayahkei-Pikudei. On the surface they only look identical. However, the instructions do not include the all the thoughts and motivations that were installed with the Betzalel’s construction. If the Torah would have written the one verse “And Betzalel did exactly as HaShem commanded.” It would be missing the key elements of the Mishkan; the subtleties that Betzalel installed were not part of the Terumah-Tetzave. The profundity of the Mishkan was only expressed in the actual construction, it was not included in the instructions.
This leads us to an insight that could elevate one who appreciates its implication. The profundity of the Mishkan and its influence that it had on those who visited it as well as its overall influence on the Earth upon which it sits, lies in the hearts of the men who constructed it! HaShem chose us to be the ones to create His Place, to be the one to create His Influence and to be ones to inspire others with His Divine Inspiration!
How fortunate we are to be chosen by HaShem to be His transmitters. HaShem values our insights and our input to be the ones who bring Glory to His Name on Earth!
As the Psalmist writes in chapter 22 “You are Holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind