Parshas Pekudei
Firm Footing
By Rabbi Shlomo Jarcaig
The building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was a process through which mankind
used various earthly elements to create an edifice in which G-d's Divine
presence would dwell. Our Sages expound upon the lessons derived from the
myriad steps and details incorporated in this process. They serve as
direction for the fulfillment of our ultimate mission in this world as Jews:
How we create a greater awareness of G-d in the world, and how we come
closer to Him.
Different components of the Mishkan were built from different types of
donated materials. While most of the construction materiel was from
voluntary donations dependant upon the will and means of the donor, there
was an additional mandatory donation incumbent upon all males of 20 years
and older at the time of the census. This donation demanded an identical sum
from each Jew, regardless of means. "The silver of the census was one
hundred talents (of 3,000 shekels each) and 1,775 shekels in the sacred
shekel; a beka for every head, a half shekel in the sacred shekel for
everyone who passed through the census takers...The hundred talents of
silver were to cast the sockets of the Sanctuary and the sockets of the
Partition; a hundred sockets for a hundred talents, a talent per socket."
(Shemos/Exodus 38:25-27) The silver was used to make the sockets that held
together the beams of the Mishkan's walls. These sockets essentially served
the foundation of the entire Mishkan.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986; Rosh Yeshiva/Dean of Mesivtha Tifereth
Jerusalem in New York City; the leading Halachic/Jewish legal decisor and
foremost leader of Torah Jewry of his time) explains that the foundation
upon which our personal, internal Mishkan is built is our Emunah (faith in
G-d). The use of this silver in the casting of the sockets for the
foundation of the Mishkan - silver that was donated in like amounts from
throughout the Jewish people - teaches that our Emunah must be employed
equally in all precincts of our life experience. Emunah is not only an
expression of dedication to the Divine in the synagogue or study hall, it is
a statement of G-d consciousness in all activities: how we conduct our
business, how we interact with our family members, how we choose to
recreate.
Furthermore, each socket was the product of 6,000 donations. No part of the
foundation could be the gift of one man alone; each Jew contributed an equal
portion. We learn that, as Jews, we need to value the input and
contributions of others. To truly accomplish and build stable structures, we
need to work as a cohesive unit. If the foundation is strong in some areas
but weak in others, the Mishkan will not stand. Only by helping another
reach his potential can we develop the necessary foundation upon which the
Mishkan can stand.
Have a Good Shabbos!
Copyright © 2003 by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch and Project Genesis, Inc.
Kol HaKollel is a publication of the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish
Studies 5007 West Keefe Avenue; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 414-447-7999
