Points to Ponder

VaYakhel /Pekudai/Parah 5775

Vavei HaAmudim (35:10) – Rav Shimshon Dovid Pinkus ztl. notes that in all other languages starting a page with a vav  would be grammatically incorrect. However in the Torah it is an ideal … Vavei HaAmudim highlights the continuity of Torah– they should not only be seen as a lone Chavaya – experience – but rather as a long continuous life of Torah and Mitzvos – a life of true Torah success.

 Each person who had Nedivus HaLev (35:21)  –  Who are the ones with Nedivus HaLev? Rav Yerucham Levovitz ztl. (Daas Torah) explains that this refers to those who do for the mission – not for themselves. They dedicate their hearts to the mission, to see it through  -- no matter what. There is a Midrash to Parshas Shoftim that tells us to learn from ants. Ants do not check research about how or what is the best job to do or what is “worth it”. Ants do what they can to prepare for the future “Shema Yigzor Alai Chaim.

  The Nesiim (35:27) – The midrash about the laziness of the Nesiim is well known. They waited and they lost out. But why did they lose the letter yud? The Shemen HaTov quotes the Chiddushei HaRim who explains that the letter “Yud” takes today’s actions and turns them into future (Lashon Atid).  The Nesiim’s laziness demonstrated that they were not Ro’im Es HaNolad.

See that Hashem called Betzalel (35:30) – Darash Moshe– Why does it say Reu for him and not at the time of the appointment of Aharon? Rav Moshe Feinstein ztl.  points out that when Hashem gives a person a talent, s/he must use it for Kavod Shomayim.  The Baal Simcha (Bris or Bar/Bat Mitzva) represents the ideals of…which s/he uses for Kavod Shomayim.

The Keruvim (37:9)  – How could it be that at the time of Churban HaBayis HaRishon the Keruvim were hugging each other? Rav Schachter Shlita cites the Ritva in Yoma who explained that when Bnei Yisrael were heading into Galus Hashem was like the Yotzai L’Derech and the hug was to pacify Bnei Yisrael.

In accordance with all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel do all the work (39:42) – Rav Dovid Stav Shlita explains that the Parshiyos of VaYakhel-Pekudai demonstrate that dreams exist. He likens Parshiyos Terumah and Tetzaveh to dreams with plans of exactly how things were planned out to be in the Mishkan. However, things do not always turn out as expected. VaYakhel Pekudai show us that even when things are not exact but that we follow the plan as demanded of us, then we need not fear dreams.

For the cloud of Hashem was on the mishkan by day and the fire at night (40:38) – Rav Yehuda Tzedaka ztl. used to note that since every Jew is like a mini-Mishkan, then the themes of Annan and Eish need to be applied to the human too. How so? Rav Tzedaka explains that the anan refers to Tzniyus.  The message to us is that Tzniyus is a good thing in a Jewish living as a rule of thumb. However, there are times when we must act with a fire  -- at these times Tzniyus and Anivus is misplaced.

Haftorah: Son of man! The house of Israel, as long as they lived on their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their misdeeds, like the uncleanness of a woman in the period of her separation was their way before Me. (Yechezkel 36:17) – Why does the Novi refer to sins and misdeeds at the beginning of the Possuk and later – in the context of Niddah merely refer to the “way” of sin? Rav Yaakov Krantz, famed Dubno Maggid explains that there is a difference between a Derech and misdeeds. The Derech refers to premeditated thought, which although hidden from our fellow man is revealed to Hashem. Misdeeds are seen by all. Many Aveiros Bein adam L’Makom tend to be in thought while Bein Adam L’Chaveiro are always revealed. While Hashem knows of both types of Aveiros, and both defile the land, the Bein Adam L’Chavero – revealed actions lead to the galus.