5785/2025
Parashat VaYakhel describes the process by which Bnei Yisrael constructed the Mishkan. In a magnificent display of teamwork, Bnei Yisrael united to donate the necessary materials to make the Mishkan. Similarly, those who were capable, stepped up to assist with the physical manufacturing of the Mishkan and the clothing of the Kohanim. While at first glance, it would appear that Bnei Yisrael were the ones who built a dwelling place for Hashem, it is important to note that Hashem was very much part of the building process as well.
The Gemara in Mesechet Yuma (75a) records a rather fascinating Midrashik interpretation on how Bnei Yisrael built the Mishkan. The Pasuk (35:27) states: וְהַנְּשִׂאִ֣ם הֵבִ֔יאוּ אֵ֚ת אַבְנֵ֣י הַשֹּׁ֔הַם וְאֵ֖ת אַבְנֵ֣י הַמִּלֻּאִ֑ים לָאֵפ֖וֹד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן, which literally means that, “The princes brought the special stones required for the Eiphod and the Choshen.” Yet, the Gemara says that the word “נשיאים,” which means princes or leaders in our context, can also mean clouds. In fact, the Gemara understands that phrase (36:3) of “וְ֠הֵ֠ם הֵבִ֨יאוּ אֵלָ֥יו ע֛וֹד נְדָבָ֖ה בַּבֹּ֥קֶר בַּבֹּֽקֶר,” which literally means that Bnei Yisrael brought donations each morning, to mean that the special stones fell from the sky each morning. Rashi on the Gemara explains that when Bnei Yisrael went to collect the man each morning, they also found special gems that had fallen from the sky. Bnei Yisrael then used those precious stones to make the clothing for the Kohanim.
In other words, the Gemara is teaching us that some of the most precious materials used to build the mishkan were not donated by man. Rather, they fell from the clouds in the sky. While Chazal may not have intended for us to learn this Gemara literally, they certainly wanted to teach us a lesson. Perhaps, the lesson to learn from this Gemara is that we were truly partnering with Hashem when we built the Miskhan. We might have convinced ourselves into thinking that we were the ones who successfully donated and built the Mishkan. Yet, the Gemara in Yuma reminds us that these materials “fell from the sky.” In a word, the donations we gave were only made possible because of Hashem. One should not look upon the beautiful masterpiece of man’s creation without acknowledging the role that Hashem played in the process.
Ramban also has a comment in this week’s Parashah which speaks to the concept of man partnering with Hashem when producing something. Ramban comments on the phrase (35:21) “וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ כׇּל־אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נְשָׂא֣וֹ לִבּ֑וֹ,” which means that “Any man whose heart inspired him to build came to build.” According to Ramban, no individual had received any formal training in any of the skills which were required to construct the Mishkan. Yet, there were those who “found it within their nature” to build. In a word, Ramban describes how a group of people simply understood that they had the potential within themselves to complete tasks related to architecture, carpentry, artistic design, as well as many other jobs which require unique degrees of expertise. People believed in themselves, and they got the job done.
The lesson that is learned from this Ramban is that Hashem gives each of us our natural talents, and Hashem wants us to use them. When we use our skills to contribute to the world, we are partnering with Hashem in the sense that we are using the talents that He gave us in order to better society. Certainly, we are entitled to feel proud of ourselves when we worked hard to accomplish something. Yet, we should never forget that it was Hashem who gave us the ability to carry out the task in the first place. When we accomplish a task in this world, we should feel grateful that we were able to partner with Hashem in the process.