The Weekly Shtikle - Vayakheil

A very special Weekly Shtikle Mazal Tov to my cousin Esther Rochel Jakobovits on her marriage this week to Yehuda Biron of LA. A special Mazal Tov to the extended Jakobovits/Meyer mishpachos. May they build a bayis ne'eman b'Yisrael.

In this week’s parsha, (35:30-35) Moshe Rabbeinu informs B’nei Yisrael that Betzalel will be in charge of overseeing the construction of the mishkan. He states that HaShem has instilled in him a special spirit of wisdom and understanding (chachma tevunah, da'as, etc.) After explaining this wisdom in more detail, Moshe adds (35:34) ulhoros nasan belibo, and to teach He has placed in his heart. It was not sufficient for Betzalel to be familiar with all the crafts necessary for the construction of mishkan. He needed to be able to teach it to others so that they may participate as well.

 

In examining this pasuk more thoroughly, there are two very important lessons that are taught in this seemingly simple phrase. The first is that no wealth of knowledge ever guarantees the ability to teach. Betzalel was brought to the highest levels of knowledge and understanding but that was not enough. In addition to the wisdom vested in him by HaShem he also required a separate Divine inspiration for the ability to teach. The art of teaching is a necessary wisdom unto itself. This point is made by the Ohr HaChayim and R’ Moshe Shternbuch on this pasuk.

 

This pasuk also teaches us that while other areas of wisdom are specific to the brain, the essence of teaching is in the heart. It is not even enough for one to spend day and night learning how to teach. No matter how much knowledge one is able to place in his brain, without a teaching heart it just doesn’t work. Therefore, in addition to enriching Betzalel’s intellect with the wisdom and knowledge to perform all the necessary tasks, HaShem instilled in him all the necessary components to make the training process as smooth as possible.

Have a good Shabbos. Mishenichnas Adar Marbim beSimchah! (applicability to Adar I a matter of dispute.)

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

Shtikle Blog Weekly Roundup:
Dikdukian: Ve'asa Vetzalel

Dikdukian: Kikar Zahav

Al Pi Cheshbon: Pi in the Torah

Daily Leaf: Follow up to Pi related to recent Daf Yomi

Please visit the new portal for all Shtikle-related sites, www.weeklyshtikle.com

The Weekly Shtikle and related content are now featured on BaltimoreJewishLife.com