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אלה פקודי המשכן… (לח:כא).

“These are the accountings of the Mishkan…” (38:21).

We have four whole Parshiyos which all discuss the building of the Mishkan.

1- In Terumah we were given the blueprint for the Mishkan and all of its vessels.

2- Tetzaveh described the instructions for the making of the vestments of the Kohanim.

3- Vayakhel is the description of the actual building of the vessels, “and Bezalel made the Aron…. the Shulchan…. the Menorah”.

4- Pikuday discusses the making of the garments and a tally of all the material used.

Could not the precious Torah have conserved much space by simply stating what was done only once?! What is the message which the Torah is teaching us here?

There is an idea being expressed which is very pertinent to one wishing to properly grow in his service of Hashem. We begin every quest for growth toward Emes, truth, by first finding a blueprint with clear and simple instructions as to what we should be striving for. After this clarification, we extend all of our efforts to implement our knowledge into action. The two stages of growth therefore are:

1- knowledge

2- application, implementation.

Thus, the Torah here stresses the importance of both these aspects, expressing them in regards to the building of the Mishkan,

1- Terumah, Tetzaveh: establish the instructions clearly,

2- Vayakhel, Pikuday: are to do it!

But as we know well, it’s not that simple! A person can know much; he can intellectually understand where his strivings should be directed, but without implementing his knowledge, it is practically worthless! R’ Yisroel Salanter would ask his students, where do you find the largest space on earth between two objects? They would try suggesting all sorts of places, from Earth to the heavens etc., not understanding what he wanted from them. He would then teach them the lesson of life: The greatest distance in the world is the space between the brain and the heart! From the time that one knows something in his head until he actually acts upon it, can be an eternity!

The Torah hints to this as well. Between the first set of Parshiyos, those of the blueprint, and the second set, those of the action of building, comes an interrupting Parshah which many are bothered by how apparently out of place it is. Parshas Ki Sisa, which discusses the sin of the Golden Calf, is placed between the two, even though according to Rashi, chronologically, the sin of the Calf occurred before the Mishkan was ever commanded. What is going on here?

Based on our above stated principle, its placement is precise and well understood. It signifies that if one only has Terumah and Tetzaveh, i.e. the intellectual instructions for success, but lacks Vayakhel and Pikuday, i.e. the carrying out of those ideas in action, then he is still capable of Ki Sisa, the Golden calf, the most terrible sin! “The main thing is action, not (intellectual) study” (Avos 1:17).

The Torah elaborates on the building of the Mishkan in two segments to teach us this great lesson. We all have plans for greatness and personal development. We must always remember that the desire to grow is very important, it serves as a useful map, but only when it is followed by action in congruence with the knowledge, can it be made real! May we all merit to live accordingly!

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Categories: Hashkafah, Machshuvah, Parshas Pekudei, Uncategorized Tags: Action