Perashat Ki Tissa 5778

Perashat Ki Tissa 5778

The subject of the building of the Tabernacle is concentrated in the last five perashot of Sefer Shemot and is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the commandment to build the Mishkan. The second part, which starts from this week's perasha, Ki Tissa, describes the implementation and actual building of the Tabernacle.

It is interesting to note that in the perashot that discuss the commandment to build the Mishkan, the Aron (Holy Ark), and the kelim (vessels or ritual articles) are mentioned first, and only afterwards does the Torah describe the actual structure of the Mishkan. However, in the perashot that describe the execution of the commandment, the order is reversed. First the structure of the Mishkan is detailed, and only after that does the Torah narrate the description of the vessels.

The Talmud relates a fascinating dialogue between Moshe and Bezalel, the Tabernacle's builder, about the order in which these commandments are described: "When Moshe told Bezalel to first construct the vessels and then the structure, Bezalel responded, 'Moshe, our Rabbi, the way of the world is that first one builds a home and afterwards he puts in the furnishings. But you tell me to build the ark and vessels and then the Tabernacle. Where shall I put the vessels I make until the Tabernacle is finished? Perhaps G-d really told you in a different order, Tabernacle, ark, vessels?' Moses responded, 'Perhaps you were under G-d's shadow (the literal meaning of the name "be-zal-el") and knew what G-d intended.' Moses then deferred to Bezalel" [Berachot 55a]. 

The Midrash explains that in G-d's commandment to Moshe the building of the structure preceded the creation of the vessels, but Moshe changed the order. Why would Moshe change the order of G-d's commandment when relaying the commandment to build to Bezalel? 

It may be suggested that perhaps Moshe did not come to tell Bezalel the practical order of building the Mishkan, as he trusted that Bezalel, in his superior wisdom, would identify the proper order. Although Bezalel was merely the builder, and builders usually do not occupy themselves with the vision of what they are building, it was important that in his holy mission he recognized the purpose of his efforts. That is the reason Moshe first described the Aron and the vessels, which symbolized the essence of the Mishkan, and only afterward described the structure. 

This lesson is well applied to our own lives. We must distinguish between the means and the ends. We must focus on the purpose of what we do in life. Are we caught up in the daily grind? Do we ever give thought to why we are investing all our efforts in something? If we contemplate this then the real reason we toil so hard will be evident. We will benefit in many ways, one of which is that we will notice how much more motivation we will have once our goals are clear. Having a higher purpose in life produces a better performance of our activities.