פרשת ויקהל פקודי
In this week’s parsha the Jewish People are commanded to contribute to the Mishkan. It is very interesting that Hashem only demanded those who were “generous of heart” to donate. In other words, Hashem commanded only those who felt like giving to give to the Mishkan. Besides the inherent oddity of this “optional mitzvah,” it almost seems that Hashem is acting in a counter-productive manner by asking only those who feel charitable to give. The Midrash Tanchuma (Nasso 16) teaches that the building of the Mishkan was so important that the main purpose of taking the Jewish People out of slavery and giving them the Torah was in order to dwell among them. Since giving to the Mishkan was optional, it was possible that the necessary funds wouldn’t be raised. Why is Hashem asking for donations for such an important task in such a leisurely way? Why does Hashem allow giving to the Mishkan to be voluntary?
The Alter of Kelm answers that the only way the Mishkan could be built was with sincerity of heart. The Jewish People had to really want closeness to G-d if Hashem was to deem it fitting that He dwell among them. To make the Mishkan into a House of G-d, the process of building it would have to reflect the loftiness of its builders. Such a project couldn’t be an obligation. Only those who really cared about Hashem and founding the Mishkan were invited to participate. It is this giving and nobility of heart that Hashem wants and this is what enabled Hashem’s Presence to dwell amongst the Jewish people. The Sfas Emes even says that the Mishkan itself is testimony that every Jew can break through and connect to Hashem if, in his heart, he aspires to do so. The building of the Mishkan demonstrates that no matter where a Jew is in life, he is capable of reaching the highest levels of spirituality, even after chait ha’egel. Genuineness of heart does not go unappreciated and every step a Jew makes to get closer to G-d and give more and more of himself is deeply cherished by Hashem. Earnest giving of the heart is what the Mishkan is all about.
In Sanhedrin 106b Rava, an amora, laments his lack of heartfelt sincerity. Rava remarks that in the years of Rav Yehuda, the yeshiva world was only well-versed in seder nezikin. In Rava’s era, the yeshivas were much more knowledgeable in Torah and even knew tractates like Uktzin, which is about miscellaneous laws of tuma and tahara. Nevertheless, Rava bemoans, when there was a drought in the days of Rav Yehuda, all Rav Yehuda had to do to end the calamity was to take off his shoe, as if declaring that he was afflicting himself on account of the situation. Rava, noting that his power of prayer was weaker than Rav Yehuda’s, says that this lacking was due to a deficiency in his own sincerity of heart. It is incredible that even Rava, an amora, felt an inadequacy in his own dedication to Hashem! All the more so do we need to work on our dedication. How much does Hashem mean to us? Are we really giving Him our full hearts?
The Hovos HaLevavos was written with the hope of inspiring the entire Jewish People to a powerful love of Hashem. According to the book’s author, Rabbeinu Bachaye, the heart is the basis for all the mitzvos. In a certain respect, a mitzvah is only valuable because of the heart we put into it. The concept that in order to fulfill a mitzvah, one must be aware that he is performing it, illustrates this idea beautifully. Hashem doesn’t want us to fulfill the Torah only with mere external actions. He wants us to cherish our mitzvos, utilizing them to grow in our love of G-d and coming close to Him. Rabbeinu Bachaye, observing that his generation desperately needed to be reminded of this fundamental principle, compiled Hovos HaLevavos for this very purpose. Rabbeinu Bachaye emphasizes that in truth, all Hashem wants is for us to love Him. This is the essence of what it means to keep the Torah and actualize Hashem’s will.
Rav Izel Harif was searching for a talmid chacham of the highest caliber to marry his daughter. He walked into a local beis midrash and slammed his hand down on the bima, announcing that he was looking for a talmid chacham for his daughter. A very sharp and hot-blooded talmid chacham himself, Rav Harif declared before the entire yeshiva that anyone who could answer his kasha could marry his daughter. All the yeshiva boys listened carefully as Rav Harif presented his problem. However, his difficulty was so powerful that the entire beis midrash was stupefied. Rav Harif, seeing that there was no one wise enough to answer his question, left the yeshiva very disappointed. However, when he was well on his way, a bucher came chasing after him. The bucher, panting from the run, apologized to Rav Harif saying, “Sorry, Rabbi. I couldn’t find the answer. But if the Rabbi finds an answer, can I please find out about it?” Rav Izel Harif, seeing this young man’s love of Torah and his deep desire to get closer to Hashem, said to him, “I’ll definitely tell you if I discover the solution, but only if you marry my daughter!!!”
May we all be zoche to give Hashem our whole hearts!!!