By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — There are many lenses we can bring to our deep study of each week’s Torah reading. The lens I prefer is one that helps search for and find ways to lead a healthier, more meaningful, and purposeful life. This week’s double reading from Vayakhel- Pekudei is brimming with insights for a more consequential, flourishing, and thriving life.
The Torah teaches us, for example, that our mental wellbeing can be promoted in several ways, for example through rest on Shabbat, filling our lives with gratitude, engaging in meaningful rituals and symbolically significant practices, and genuinely warm community engagement.
On the latter point, we see how in this week’s reading the building of the Mishkan can serve as an example of building a strong, unified, Jewish community. Specifically, the cherubim on the ark cover, “had their wings spread out above, shielding the cover with their wings. They faced each other…” The Hebrew word we read is soch’chim, suggesting their wings joined to make a sukkah.
The cherubim wings touched and faced each other. Sounds like the love of a married couple, the caring of good friends, and maybe even how a united, peaceful community acts towards each other. As Albert Ellis, Ph.D. the famed psychologist once observed, “The art of love…is largely the art of persistence.” It’s not about agreeing on everything as much as it is in dealing with each other in peaceful, loving, kind and respectful ways. Sure, there are many opinions and differences of opinion in a synagogue, in a community, but when we stand with each other, facing each other, finding the good in each other, we bring the peaceful relationship that would wisely be our goal in building a healthy Jewish community.
We see in the Torah reading the importance of unity, collaboration, planning and organization, respect for diversity, and generosity in building a strong and cohesive community. That’s the power of a kehilla, a unified gathering, a healthy community.
The Rambam, Maimonides, emphasizes the spiritual and philosophical significance of the construction of the Mishkan. He highlights the theme of divine unity, and points to efforts to build the Mishkan as unifying the Israelites in their worship of Hashem, with the specific design and objects of the Mishkan, to reflect the unity and oneness of Hashem. The Rambam explains that emphasis on intention and inspiration in the construction of the Tabernacle is meant to underscore the fact that the Mishkan is not simply a physical structure, but a spiritual and transcendent space designed to cultivate a sense of holiness in our daily lives. We need to look beyond the physical to something deeper.
As we go beyond the physical to what it is meant to inspire, how about examining the way we behave towards one another in our Mishkan today? If only the physical trappings of the Mishkan are holy, it’s an empty sukkah. The cherubim wings touched and faced each other. Do you walk by others as if they are not even there, offering an empty, ingenuine nod, yet believing you are inspired by the holiness of the Mishkan?
Rashi’s commentary of the parashot of Vayakhel – Pekudei also focuses on the construction of the Tabernacle. His comment on the phrase, “These are the things that Hashem commanded to make,” indicates the importance and significance of the Mishkan in our lives…physically inspiring us to be better, more genuine, more caring, more attentive people. He notes that the different types of materials used, symbolize the diversity of the Israelites, each contributing in his/her own way.
The Torah this week emphasizes the importance of everyone participating in community building. The wealthier members of the community contributed in their way, while the less financially wealthy contributed in their way. The willingness of everyone to contribute creates a unity and common purpose. The willing spirit of all, nadva rucho, was clear. In other words, being inspired and motivated to say, “I can do it.” The collaboration between people with different skills and abilities demonstrated the value of everyone’s contribution being valued. Who was “more important”? Nobody.
Charlie Harary, a well-known Jewish speaker and author, commented that the double reading this week has a focus on unified exemplary and genuine leadership, in that Moses was able to inspire and motivate the Jewish people to work together towards a common goal. Harary notes that when they worked together, with a sense of respectful unity and common purpose, they were able to accomplish great things. It takes unified, genuinely respectful, open to all, action. Action. Not preaching empty words but living those words.
Hillel teaches us, “Do not separate yourself from the community.” You are not better than another. It’s easy to separate yourself, irrationally thinking you stand above another. During times of strife, it’s easy for some to step away. Hillel and Moses however teach us that we are meant to step forward with each other during times of conflict.
Indeed, the parsha of Vayakhel has its name translated in modern Hebrew with the same root as the word kehilla, community, as it relates to gathering people together. That’s what Moses did in this week’s reading…he brought the community together and demonstrated the power of a unified community.
And didn’t we just read about the construction of the Mishkan in parasha Terumah? Yet, here we are again, reading of the elaborate construction. Rav Avraham Pam, the 20th century sage, was troubled by this observation. He finds a remarkable insight into human behavior that we can use to help us live better lives. He notes that the first time the Torah speaks of building the Mishkan it says, “And you shall make.” In our parasha discussing the same thing, it says, “And He made.” We were to make, and we did make. It takes perseverance.
Sure, the intricate vision of the building of the Mishkan we learned of in parasha Terumah captured our attention. And the recounting of the same story in this week’s reading reminds us of the many starts and stops along the way. For anyone involved in community building, that’s no surprise. The Torah teaches us that we may need to build a temporary Mishkan, a stop along the way with many collaborative hands, hearts and heads involved, to bind all to a final united kehilla.
There is always excitement when something gets going. Moses blessed the people after the Mishkan was completed. He understood how our זריזות, our alacrity, was needed – both when we begin a project and when we finish it. He understood that the Jewish people’s excitement and relationship with Hashem may well abate once the Mishkan was completed, so he offered his prayer after it was built, in the hopes that their relationship would not fade and would continue with excitement.
Imagine what the worldwide Jewish community could be like if we actually — no, I mean really — not pretending, but genuinely, worked together continually, without wavering, combining our hearts and talents as one.
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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