MARCH 11 • 2021 | 21

SPIRIT

A Wholehearted 
Effort 
I

’ve always been fond of the 
quote by Olympic runner 
Peter Snell who, in refer-
ence to training on rainy days, 
said, “… there’s a satisfaction 
in knowing you’re out there 
when others aren’t.” 
To me, it was the 
reminder during my 
college running days 
that there were no 
excuses for missing 
training runs. That if I 
wanted to be my best, 
every step counted. 
Even if no one else 
would know I missed 
a training day over the 
summer, I knew. To do 
my best, I had to put in 
my best. 
This week’s double 
portion teaches us a 
similar lesson. The portions 
begin with Moses assembling 
the people, reminding us to 
observe the Sabbath and pro-
viding the instructions for the 
building of the Tabernacle, 
the traveling sanctuary where 
ancient Israelites worshiped 
God as we traveled from 
Egyptian slavery to freedom 
in Israel. A full accounting 
details how the precious met-
als and other donated materi-
als were used. 
These gifts were given by 
the Israelites to Moses who 
then gave them to the art-
ists in order to begin their 
work. And then, something 
unique happened, some-
thing almost unheard of 
in fundraising. The artists 
tell Moses that they have 
more than enough materials 
and Moses declares that 
no more gifts should be 

brought for the making of 
the Tabernacle. 
Our ancestors’ generosity 
teaches us an important les-
son. There was an overabun-
dance of materials because 
the Israelites offered as much 
as they could. They put 
their whole hearts into 
their giving. And just 
as they did with their 
offerings, bringing the 
required materials for 
the Tabernacle, so, too, 
did they model for us 
that we, too, have the 
responsibility in life to 
put forth our best effort. 
When we give our 
best, that’s what we get 
in return. But when 
we water things down, 
whether it be our work 
ethic, what we put into rela-
tionships, the work we do 
to fulfill our vision or our 
dreams, then we get little 
value in return — our end 
results don’t do the job. 
To get our best, we must 
put in our best. And, even if 
others might not realize it if 
we aren’t giving our all, we 
still do. And we know that the 
final results are better because 
we’ve put in our best.
And so, just as we will 
say as we raise the Torah 
this Shabbat and read these 
final chapters in the Book 
of Exodus: “Chazak, Chazak, 
V’Nitchazek” — Be strong, be 
strong, and by putting our 
best efforts in, may we reach 
our goals and strengthen one 
another. 

Rabbi Daniel A. Schwartz is a 

rabbi at Temple Shir Shalom in West 

Bloomfield.

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi Daniel 
Schwartz

Parshat 

Vayakhel/

Pekuday: 

Exodus 

35:1-40:38; 

Ezekiel 

45:16-46:18.

PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY

The JN and the Jewish Community Center’s JFamily 

will once again shine the public spotlight on teens 

in our community with Rising Stars: Teens Making a 

Dif 
erence. 18 remarkable Jewish teens in the Metro 

Detroit area will be selected and featured in the April 

29, 2021, issue of the Jewish News and recognized 

on the JN and JCC’s JFamily social media pages.

Nominees must live in Michigan, identify as Jewish 

and be students in grades 9-12; they can be self-

nominated or may be nominated by others today 

through March 17.

Nominees should be recognized for impact, 

contribution and/or achievement in areas 

including (but not limited) to:

• Tikkun olam, volunteerism, social action, 
advocacy, philanthropy
• Academics/education
• Athletics
• Music & arts
• Business & entrepreneurship
• Overcoming obstacles and challenges
• Jewish growth and learning
• Leadership

SEEKING
TERRIFIC TEENS!

To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to 

thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button 

or to jfamily.jccdet.org/risingstars. The deadline is March 17.

