B"H
Thursday, Adar1 30, 5782 / March 3, 2022
Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Adar 2.The Torah tells us, in this week’s Parsha, Pekudei, that after the craftsmen finished the Mishkan (Tabernacle), all of its contents and the garments for Aaron (High Priest) and his children, they were all brought to Moshe. The Torah says, “Moshe saw the entire work and they did it exactly as G-d had commanded. Moshe then blessed them.”
The Torah doesn't specify what exactly was Moshe’s blessing. However, our sages explain that Moshe’s blessing was, “May His divine presence dwell inthe work of your hands.”
Q. Moshe should have blessed them that G-d’s divine presence should rest in the Mishkan. Why did he say, ‘May His divine presence dwell in the work of your hands?’”
A. When G-d descended to give the Torah at Mount Sinai, which was the greatest revelation of G-d’s presence in history and the mountain was permeated with holiness, it was only for the duration of the Giving of the Torah. Afterwards, the mountain returned to its original state.
However, in the Mishkan and later in the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple), G-d’s presence rested permanently. Even today, two thousand years after the destruction of the Holy Temple, the very place where the Temple stood is still holy.
Here we see the significance which our work and input can accomplish. At Mount Sinai we were passive participants. G-d descended in all His glory and majesty accompanied by breathtaking sounds and sights of grand thunder and lightning, while the Jewish people merely observed and heard. Thus, the impression of the holiness wasn't permanent.
However, the Mishkan and Holy Temples were built by the people, using their own materials, crafted with their hands and sweat. Men, women, rich and poor, each contributing their talents and expertise.
This human participation is what caused the Sanctuary to become permeated with enduring holiness. This is Moshe’s blessing to them, “May His divine presence dwell in the work of your hands.” G-d’s presence will rest there forever, because of the work of your hands.
On the lighter side: Little Sarah was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her the story of creation. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch her grandfather’s wrinkled cheeks. She was alternately stroking her own cheeks, then his cheeks again.
"Grandpa, who made you?" asked little Sarah. “G-d,” replied her grandfather. "Grandpa, did G-d make me too?" she asked. "Yes. G-d made me a long time ago and you just a few years ago."
Running her hands across their respective faces one more time, Sarah observed, "Don’t you think G-d is getting better at it?"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY