Pekudei - Our Children – Our Heroes

Pekudei -  Our Children – Our Heroes

March 11/12, 2016   Adar2 1/2 , 5776

35:30 -35:35     

  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;

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

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

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

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.

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 was Betzalel chosen for such an awesome task?

 Betzalel was chosen 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 & beautiful family qualities, such as his artistic talent, and obviously it was put to the best usage.  He was also the great grandson of Moses’ 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 (The Holy Temple)!!!!  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% apply oneself, and apply oneself so very 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.

He was 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, without any hesitation, and a true devotion and love. It is also believed that he was about 13 years old during this time – a young man; a young man with sincerity and a true loving soul!   A lesson we can ALL absorb – we can learn lessons in life from our own children (at times), as their eyes are young and fairly innocent, and VERY open!

In today’s modern world, and with such fan fair, Social Media and other Media sources (Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, TMZ, The Dish, TV/Streaming, etc…)  blurting out this and that about a person being a 'hero', we need to ask ourselves in the solitude of our own homes, in the quietness of our own beautiful and natural surroundings,

Do we have any modern day “Betzalels", who are TRUE HEROES?

Each and every day upon the moment we awake, we must build and conduct ourselves like Betzalel, who unselfishly built up the Mishkan, with a true love towards G-D!, and at 13 years of age!  This is just a very gentle and sweet reminder that we can indeed learn a few things from our children – Our Own ‘little- Big’ Heroes! I most definitely learn and admire my kids each and everyday!