‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshios Vayakhel-Pekudei
“Moshe said to the entire assembly of B’nei Yisroel… Take from within you a portion for Hashem, all whose heart donates…” (35:4-5)
In parshas Terumah the pasuk says ‘they shall take for me a terumah’, referring to the nesi’im or appointees in charge of the collection. But here Moshe Rabbeinu was addressing the entire nation. So, to whom is he referring when he says ‘take from within you’?
Oznayim LaTorah answers by quoting the following story: On one occasion when the famed Volozhiner Yeshiva was in a dire financial situation, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik zt’l traveled to Minsk to consult with the yeshiva’s two gabbaei tzedakah – Rav Baruch Zlodovitz zt’l and Rav Dover Pinus zt’l. Rav Chaim went to the home of Rav Baruch who immediately pledged to do what he could to help the yeshiva. A month later when Rav Chaim inquired about how he was doing, Rav Baruch replied that he already had half of the needed money. Rav Chaim happily returned to his learning. When Rav Chaim consulted him another month later, Rav Baruch told him that he had raised enough money to cover the entire debt.
A short time later Rav Baruch and Rav Dover came to the Volozhin Beis Din. Rav Dover claimed that it was unfair that Rav Baruch had used his personal funds to cover the yeshiva’s entire debt before Rav Dover knew about the situation and was able to assist himself. Since he and Rav Baruch had a partnership it was only fair that they share this mitzvah.
When Rav Chaim heard that Rav Baruch had given the entire amount from his own pocket, he asked him why he had not given the entire amount up front. Rav Baruch replied, “Does the Rav think it was easy for me to part with such a large sum of money? It took me a few weeks to overcome my desire for money in order to donate the first half. Then it took me another few weeks until I was able to bring myself to give away the rest of the amount.”
When Moshe told the nation “Take from within you” he was talking to every Jew. The materials donated for the Mishkan had to be given wholeheartedly. Thus, Moshe told them that they had to take from within themselves, i.e. to overcome their own resistance.
As someone once quipped, “We shouldn’t give tzedakah until it hurts; we should give until it feels good!”
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“See! Hashem has proclaimed by name, Betzalel son of Uri son of Chur…” (36:30)
What did Moshe mean that the nation should see that Hashem chose Betzalel?
Rav Moshe Feinstein zt’l (Darash Moshe) explained that anyone who is granted a talent has an obligation to utilize it for Kiddush shem shamayaim. The fact that the Torah does not specifically obligate the person to do so is only so that he should have free will. But if Hashem has granted a person abilities that itself is indicative of his responsibility to develop his talent and use it to inspire others.
This is what Moshe was telling the nation. From the very fact that they could all see the incredible artistry that Betzalel innately possessed to construct the vessels, vestments, and structure of the Mishkan was a clear proof that Hashem had chosen him to perform this labor.
When a person shies away from using his talents it is not a sign of humility but misguided imprudence. The talents and capabilities Hashem endows a person with are equally a responsibility for him to use those talents properly. As the final Mishna in Avos (Perek 6 – Kinyan Torah) states – everything Hakadosh Baruch Hu created was only for His Glory.
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“They finished all the work of the Mishkan, the Tent of Meeting, and B’nei Yisroel did all that Hashem commanded Moshe, so they did.” (39:32)
Ohr Hachaim notes that even though only Betzalel and the other chachmei lev performed the actual work of the Mishkan, the Torah credits all of Klal Yisroel with the work, because of their sincere desire to take part.
He explains that this parallels the manner in which every Jew fulfills the entire Torah. There are many mitzvos endemic only to kohanim, the king, men, women etc. Therefore, the only way an individual can fulfill all 613 mitzvos is by being part of Klal Yisroel. When a Jews does whatever mitzvos apply to him and sees himself as part of Klal Yisroel then he is credited for fulfilling ‘all that Hashem commanded Moshe’. This then is part of the importance of loving every Jew.
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