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Torah Portion

The Strength Of Judaism
Comes From Each Jew

some detail? Was there a defect in
material or a flaw in the blueprint?
Moses assured the people that
everything had been done according
to his (and God's) stipulated instruc-
tions. But, the Midrash continues, it
was God's wish that, since Moses
himself had not participated physi-
IV hen Moses saw that
cally in the building of the Mishkan,
they had performed all
the final tasks of assembling the sec-
the work (of the
tions and placing them in position
Tabernacle) — as God
was to be reserved for him alone.
had commanded, so they had done
The heartfelt gifts and beautiful
— Moses blessed them ... When
artistry of God's dwelling place
Moses finished the work, the cloud
would be constructed in
covered the Tent of
vain, if it did not include
Meeting, and the Divine
Moses' wisdom, spirit and
Presence filled the
faith. Thus, "they brought
Tabernacle." (Exodus 39:43,
the Tabernacle to Moses,
40:33-34)
with the tent and all its
This last sedra in the sec-
furnishings ..." but "Moses
ond book of the Torah con-
finished the work."
tains details for the con-
The Tabernacle in-the
struction of the Tabernacle
Torah is also symbolic of
in the wilderness, a four-
our modern Jewish com-
month task. Coordinated
munity as well. Like the
RABBI
by Ithamar, a son of Aaron,
tent of meeting in the
NORMAN T
and embodying the artistry
wilderness, our communal
ROMAN
of Bezalel and Oholiav, the
Tabernacle has been con-
Special to the
children of Israelites now
structed by men and
Jewish News
had a "holy place," their
women of varied skills and
tent of meeting in which
resources, by institutions
God's presence would dwell. Every
like synagogues, federations, centers,
adult male had participated in the
councils and congresses — all dedi-
building-fund campaign by donating
cated to serve the needs of our peo-
a half shekel; all whose hearts so
ple. Each has an important role to
moved them brought gifts of raw
play in the stability of the communi-
materials, like skins and jewels,
ty, each a function to fulfill in help-
threads and dyes. Moses, whom we
ing maintain the strength and beau-
have already seen as prophet and
ty of our collective Tabernacle.
lawgiver, now assumes the role of
According to another commen-
master builder. Workers and the
tary, both Bezalel and Oholiav were
Tabernacle, almost complete, stand
needed to build the Mishkan in the
in the center of the camp for Moses
desert because their talents were dif-
to "see all the work ... and he blessed
ferent. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook
them."
describes "the Tabernacle as embody-
There is a fascinating Midrash,
ing the sacred meeting ground of
however, which continues our story.
two polar human capacities." On the
Chapter 40, verses 18-33, seems to
one hand, this dwelling place for
teach that Moses himself assembled
God was sacred. Bezalel, according
the final parts of the project. The
to Rabbi Kook, was the kind of spir-
rabbis tell a_legend that, when the
itual genius who could conceive of
Mishkan (Tabernacle) was complet-
God's physical wishes. Bezalel, in
ed, everyone was understandably
designing the Tabernacle, could
excited and anxious for the finished
begin with the mind of God and
project to be dedicated. But despite
carry that knowledge to earth.
the best efforts of its designers, the
Oholiav, on the other hand,
structure would not stand up!
worked with the practical tools of a
Workers, laborers, artists, men,
human being reaching out for God's
women and children all tried unsuc-
presence. He started with an appre
cessfully.
ciation of the potential for holiness
They came before Moses and
within each detail and pursued a
asked, "Why doesn't the Tabernacle
path of making the ordinary special.
stand on its own? Did we overlook
In other words, the Tabernacle
represents a blending of kadosh
Norman T. Roman is rabbi of Temple
(holy) and chol (ordinary). Bezalel

Shabbat Pekudei:
Exodus 38:21-40:38;
I Kings 7:51-8:21.

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