Betzalel Knew How to Build and Teach

For Shabbat, March 13, 2021

Parshat Veyakhel – Pekudei Hachodesh

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Mantell

SAN DIEGO –What is the value of knowledge if it is not transmitted and shared with others? If we take a look at this week’s Torah readings and follow the path of Betzalel, we may find an answer to that question.

The Holy Zohar teaches us that the name a person is given brings insight into that person’s strengths. In Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah, we see the name is comprised of betzel (shelter) and E-l (of Hashem). The name means “in the shadow of God.” We see in his name, my father’s name incidentally, that he would be the one to build the Mishkan. My father’s yahrzeit falls on Adar 29, which this year begins on the evening of March 12th, as we read this week’s Torah readings on Shabbat.

Betzalel’s father had ruach hakodesh, and knew that he would build the Mishkan, so he named his son Betzalel to merit this great achievement. We are told, “He has endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft and has inspired him to make designs for work in gold, silver, and copper, to cut stones for setting to carve wood — to work in every kind of designer’s craft – and to give directions.”

Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonasan: The name Betzalel indicates his wisdom, for when God told Moses to tell Betzalel to make a Mishkan and the other vessels, Moses reversed the order and said to him, “Make an Ark and the vessels and the Mishkan.” Betzalel then said to him, “Moses, the way of the world is to build a house and then bring into it the vessels, but you told me to first make the vessels and then the Mishkan. Where will I put the vessels that I make? Perhaps God told you to make the Mishkan first and then the Ark and vessels.”

Moses responded, “You are called Betzalel – (literally) in the shadow of God, for you knew precisely how to interpret God’s words as if you were there, in his shadow.”

The Ramban notes that Betzalel’s abilities were a miracle, since during the centuries of the Jews’ stay in Egypt they had no access to precious metals such as gold, silver and copper. The fact that Betzalel knew how to work these metals was wholly unexpected.

We are told in Vayakhel that Betzalel was filled with ruach Elohim, and according to Rashi, Betzalel also had chochmaht’vunah, (insight or experience) and daat. But simply possessing chochmah, t’vunah and daat, simply sharing a unity with Hashem as his name implies, is not enough. It’s what you do with your education and knowledge that matters.

Ibn Ezra, an 11th century commentator wrote, “The Torah found it vital to stress that Betzalel…was endowed with the ability and the will to teach and communicate his skills and knowledge to those willing to learn.” Betzalel had the ability to teach and empower others. Betzalel used his gifts ul’horot natan b’libo and taught the people, men and women, to work together leading to the building of the Mishkan.

Chaim ibn Attar, an 18th century rabbi, stated, “Being able to share one’s wisdom with others is a special gift.  Yet, to do so one needs not only talent, but also a generous spirit.  Not everyone can teach,” the Rabbi observed, “Some wise men are on so high a plane that they cannot descend to the people to speak their language.” Betzalel had this special gift, the ability to teach from his heart, and B’H, used it well.

But he was not alone, partnering as he did with Ahaliav ben Achisamach of the tribe of Dan. His name translates as “a tent for me (ohel li) and for my father (Avi).” Betzalel and Ahaliav are from the tribes of Yehuda and Dan respectively, that of royalty and judgment. In Parshat Vayakhel, Moshe tells the Jews “See that Hashem has called in the name of Betzalel the son of Uri, the son of Chur, from the tribe of Judah and He has imbued him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with insight, and with knowledge, and with talent for all manner of craftsmanship to do master weaving, to work with gold, silver, and copper, with the craft of stones for setting and with the craft of wood, to work with every manner of thoughtful work. And He put into his heart the ability to teach, both him and Ahaliav, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.”

Then in Parasha Pekudei it says “And Betzalel did according to everything that Hashem commanded Moshe. And with him Ahaliav crafted, and embroidered the blue, scarlet, and linen materials.” Betzalel and Ahaliav were the ones in charge of teaching and assigning various tasks to those who built the Mishkan. And yet when the making of the vessels begins it says “And Betzalel made the Aron,” and then throughout the rest of the parsha it says, “And he made,” in the singular form.  Rashi notes that the fact that Ahaliav was from the tribe of Dan is important because Dan was from the lesser prestigious tribes and Betzalel was from the tribe of Yehuda, the most prestigious of the tribes. Rashi says that Hashem intentionally selected these two to teach us a moral lesson, i.e., that God does not show preference to the privileged over the less privileged.

Are you equally working with others as a family and as a community to be worthy of redemption as it says, “In Nissan we were redeemed, and in Nissan we will be redeemed.” Are you lifting others with your wisdom, your discernment, you knowledge and your heart to build something greater for our community?

Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazeik
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun.  He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com