Project Mishkan’ reaches it completion in this week’s Parsha. We read how the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was brought before Moshe. The Medresh provides us with some more detail: Betzalel – the main builder – together with the workers attempted to set up the Mishkan, but were unable to do it. Only Moshe was able to erect the Mishkan. Why? Hashem did not allow the workers to understand how to set up the Mishkan because he wanted Moshe to do it. Why was Moshe saved the final act of setup? Because Moshe was upset over the fact that he did not have a share in the building of the Mishkan. Hashem therefore left the final act for Moshe to do as it says, “and Moshe set up the Mishkan”.
We must ask, why was Moshe upset? Moshe was very actively involved in the building of the Mishkan and all its utensils. To quote, “The Mishkan is considered to have been done entirely by Moshe since he was so dedicated to oversee all the work, down to every minute detail that he had been instructed. Similarly our Temple in Yerushalayim was called the ‘House of Dovid’ although built by his son Shlomo; since it was King Dovid’s great self-sacrifice to oversee the project.” The Medresh describes how Moshe would go round all the workers every day in order to give them the instructions and to oversee the work.
Why then was Moshe upset that he did not do anything in the actual building of the Mishkan? Imagine the director of a huge Kellogg’s factory complaining about his job, that he doesn’t get to fold the cornflake boxes! Or that he doesn’t get to turn the oven on! That would be crazy; he is doing something much more important, he is overseeing the whole project. Without him nothing would have happened.
The answer lies in the understanding of the importance of action. All our dedication and involvement in any project can never be in place of actual action. All of the ‘intents’ in the world can’t replace the actual deed. If one lies in bed all day thinking about putting on Tefilin but doesn’t actually put them on one has achieved nothing. Someone who arranges a Minyan, brings the chairs and arranges a chazan, the Siddurim etc still needs to daven himself to be able to have the Mitzvah of davening.
What is it about the actual action that makes it so important? Surely it’s the thought behind any Mitzvah which is what Hashem wants as it says; “Hashem wants our hearts”? Was Moshe’s action of putting up the Mishkan so important, even more than being the director of building it?
Yes, action is so important. We know that the Manna tasted of whatever you wanted it to. What if you had no thoughts of what you wanted it to taste like when you ate it? It was tasteless. Similarly said the Chofetz Chaim, if we do a מצוה without the thoughts and understanding behind it, then it is ‘tasteless’ Mitzvahs and their observance will be short-lived. Continuing this line of thought: if you stare at the Manna all day long and talk about what would like it to taste like but you don’t actually bring the food to your mouth you will die of hunger!
The Sefer Hachinuch writes a scary thing: a person who in his heart thinks of being evil yet behaves externally good and performs Hashem’s Mitzvahs will eventually change for the good. Whereas someone who in his heart is righteous and wants to do Mitzvahs – and may even speak about doing them, but doesn’t actually get down to the practical side of things will eventually become entirely wicked and anti the idea of performing the Mitzvahs Hashem has given us. Nothing can compromise the actual Mitzvah deed. The intentions before and during a Mitzvah are likes lots of zero’s, but are worthless without the “one” at the beginning.
Rav Hirsch suggests that this idea is behind the putting of the hand-tefillin which represent action before the head-tefillin which represent thought.
Now we have a better idea why Moshe was not satisfied without doing something. Because action is what makes any other involvement into a Mitzvah. Now it was considered as if he built the whole Mishkan because he had a “one” before all his “noughts”.
Last week I was tremendously inspired. The Chief Rabbi’s talk at the Friday night dinner made me want to dance with joy just for being Jewish. When he quoted the Chofetz Chaim’s one-word-sermon of “Shaaaaaabos!” I couldn’t help but think how I could up my game on Shabbos. Rabbi Sinclair’s life story made me think about learning ‘Mesilas Yesharim’ – the Magnus Opus of Rabbi Luzzato (1707-1746) that completely changed his outlook on life – from “Hollywood to Holyland. I came home after Shabbos with the greatest intentions to do something. But alas, a week has passed and I’ve done nothing except think about what I could do to bottle up some of the inspiration and translate it into action. I assume I am not alone in these thoughts….
So I hereby challenge you – each and every one of you whatever stage of life you are holding – to join me in my challenge of keeping ShabbatUK 2019 alive until our next injection of inspiration. Why not dip your feet into the ‘Mesilas Yesharim’ at the recently started study group with R’ Yosef Berkovits “Spirituality Speaking” – a discussion based around the Mesilas Yesharim (every other Sunday night 6:45-7:15 in the Bridal Room). If you want a different setting or there is something else you fancy learning then I offer my hand out to you to help us together grow spiritually by getting involved with some concrete action to learn whatever you want to make sure our inspiration is used in the world of action.
Good Shabbos, Yaakov
