Parashat Vayekhel-Pekudei D Var Torah

Shabbat Adar 27, 5773    March 9, 2013

Barry Fineman

“ Talent, Dedication, Reverence”

35:30 -35:35  Vayomer Moshe el-benei Yisrael re'u kara HASHEM beshem Betzalel ben-Uri ven-chur lemateh Yehudah.

And Moses said to the children of israel, "See, G-D has called by name Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Judah;

Vayemale oto ruach Elokim bekhokhmah bitvunah uveda'at uvechol-melachah.

and He has filled him with the Spirit of G-d, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship,

Velachshov machashavot la'asot bazahav uvakesef uvanchoshet.

to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze,

Uvacharoshet even lemal'ot uvacharoshet etz la'asot bechol-melechet machashavet.

in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.

Ulehorot Natan belibo hu ve'Aholi'av ben-Achisamach lemateh-Dan.

And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholi'av the son of Achisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

Mile otam chochmat-lev la'asot kol-melechet charash vekhoshev verokem batechelet uva'argaman betola'at hashani uvashesh ve'oreg osei kol-melachah vechoshvei machashavot.

He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver--those who do every work and those who design artistic works.

38:22 …….And Betzalel, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Judah, Had made all that G-D had asked of Moses.

Why Betzalel?

The midrash explains the reasoning for choosing Betzalel was partly due to his family lineage.   Chur was slain during the incident involving the Golden Calf, as a result of his own opposition.  It may be interpreted that this act of having betzalel use his artistic ways and build was atonement for Chur’s death.  Betzalel had many blessed family qualities, such as his artistic talent, and obviously it was put to the best usage.  He was also the great grandson of Mose’s sister, Miriam.  It can be viewed and seen that Miriam’s reverence of G-D and act of disobeying the Pharoh’s order to murder the first born son, was rewarded my giving her a descendant that was given the Mitzvah of building the Mishkan!!!!  Miriam’s reverence was passed on and Betzalel also had that quality. 

Betzalel had no remorse or resentment that Chur was killed, and he carried G-D’s commandment of building as asked, as he revered, obeyed, and loved G-D! 

The sincere ability to cope with those feelings and to be able to 100% , and apply himself fully to G-D and the commandment, shows true self-sacrifice.  I see this as yet another sign of nobility of his lineage, and it was part of his heart, and part of his soul.

A true hero, a true person of G-d’s commandments, and one who really understood that one should apply one’s talent where and when needed.

I ask you, do we have any modern day “betzalels”?

-Amen-