We read a double parasha this week – Parashat Vayakhel-Pekude. Each of these parashiyot describe the building of the mishkan and the construction of the vessels that were housed and used within it.
Betzalel was charged with overseeing the construction of the mishkan and its vessels. Parashat Pekude opens with the statement, “And Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Chur of the tribe of Yehudah did everything that Hashem commanded Moshe.” Rashi explains that we would have expected the Torah to say that Betzalel did what Moshe commanded him to do. Instead, the Torah tells us that that Betzalel did everything that Hashem commanded him to do.
Based on a passage from Masechet Berachot, Rashi explains that Betzalel did things that did not make sense to Moshe, his teacher. Specifically, Moshe told Betzalel to make the vessels first and then to make the mishkan. Betzalel argued that the way of the world is to first make a house and then to place the vessels inside. Moshe was won over by Betzalel’s argument.
On the surface, this explanation is difficult to understand. Moshe was the greatest prophet. How could this important fact – the order in which to make the mishkan and its vessels – have escaped him? How could Betzalel have known a fact that was not revealed to his teacher, Moshe?
The disagreement between Moshe and Betzalel was not an argument regarding a fact. If that had been the case, Moshe would surely have known it. Instead, the argument was about a new application that was not directly instructed by Hashem – the order in which to make the mishkan and the vessels. Betzalel argued that a house is always made first, then the vessels. Betzalel was employing his intuition – an intuition honed by Torah learning, aptitude and experience. Betzalel was an expert craftsman. He understood the impact that the mishkan and its vessels would have on those who saw them. He understood something that Moshe’s intuition did not recognize – the vessels must not be left outside of their home – not even to wait for the home to be built. The mishkan must be built before the vessels.
One important lesson of this idea relates to leadership. Even a leader like Moshe needed the counsel and expertise of others. Each person has different insights and can provide different perspectives. In heeding Betzalel’s advice, Moshe allowed the vessels and the mishkan to be created in the best possible order.
Betzalel was charged with overseeing the construction of the mishkan and its vessels. Parashat Pekude opens with the statement, “And Betzalel the son of Uri the son of Chur of the tribe of Yehudah did everything that Hashem commanded Moshe.” Rashi explains that we would have expected the Torah to say that Betzalel did what Moshe commanded him to do. Instead, the Torah tells us that that Betzalel did everything that Hashem commanded him to do.
Based on a passage from Masechet Berachot, Rashi explains that Betzalel did things that did not make sense to Moshe, his teacher. Specifically, Moshe told Betzalel to make the vessels first and then to make the mishkan. Betzalel argued that the way of the world is to first make a house and then to place the vessels inside. Moshe was won over by Betzalel’s argument.
On the surface, this explanation is difficult to understand. Moshe was the greatest prophet. How could this important fact – the order in which to make the mishkan and its vessels – have escaped him? How could Betzalel have known a fact that was not revealed to his teacher, Moshe?
The disagreement between Moshe and Betzalel was not an argument regarding a fact. If that had been the case, Moshe would surely have known it. Instead, the argument was about a new application that was not directly instructed by Hashem – the order in which to make the mishkan and the vessels. Betzalel argued that a house is always made first, then the vessels. Betzalel was employing his intuition – an intuition honed by Torah learning, aptitude and experience. Betzalel was an expert craftsman. He understood the impact that the mishkan and its vessels would have on those who saw them. He understood something that Moshe’s intuition did not recognize – the vessels must not be left outside of their home – not even to wait for the home to be built. The mishkan must be built before the vessels.
One important lesson of this idea relates to leadership. Even a leader like Moshe needed the counsel and expertise of others. Each person has different insights and can provide different perspectives. In heeding Betzalel’s advice, Moshe allowed the vessels and the mishkan to be created in the best possible order.
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