Risking It All

After listing all the items that needed to be made for the Mishkan, as well as the different materials that we donated by Klal Yisroel, the Torah tells us who would be responsible for this considerable project: “Re’u Karah Hashem B’Shem Betzalel ben Uri ben Chur L’Matteh Yehudah.” The following Pessukim list the various Chachmos and abilities that Betzalel was given in order to fulfill his task. Not only was Betzalel granted a general sense of Chachma and knowledge, but he was a gifted craftsman, able to complete the intricate handiwork necessary for the Mishkan.

An examination of these Pessukim, and the Divrei Chazal that surround them, reveals a number of questions.

First, the Passuk tells us not only the name of Betzalel’s father, Uri, which is the standard convention, but also his grandfather, Chur. The Yalkut Shimoni notes that this is because Chur stood up to those who were intent on creating the Egel HaZahav, and tried to stop them, only to be killed. Upon seeing the Meseiras Nefesh of Chur, The Yalkut explains that at that time Hashem said: “Chayecha SheAni Poreah Lecha.”

The implication of the Medrash is that the reward that Chur was promised was somehow realized in the appointment of Betzalel as the leader of the Binyan HaMishkan. On one level we must understand why this was the reward that Chur received—he gave his life to prevent Klal Yisroel from being Oved Avodah Zarah, in what way does Betzalel’s position relate to the sacrifice of this grandfather?

This question becomes maybe even a little stronger if we look at the end of the Yalkut, which says that everyone who was involved in the Binyan Hamishlkan was granted the Chachma and abilities needed to fulfill their job, as the Passuk refers to the “Chachmei Lev” as a group. In fact, even the animals that were needed for the work of the Mishkan received some level of Chachma. The Medrash concludes that Betzalel was different, however, because he was the one singled out for recognition by Hashem: “Re’u Karah Hashem B’Shem Betzalel ben Uri ben Chur.” It therefore seems that the only reward that was given to Chur was that his grandson was mentioned by name. If so we certainly must understand how this was a reward commiserate with the sacrifice of Chur.

Even if we were to understand how this was a reward, the connection between the role of Betzalel and the actions of Chur may also be in question.

Rashi on our Passuk notes that Chur was himself the son of Miriam, and the Yalkut tells us that when Yocheved and Miriam refused to listen to Pharoah, “Vatichayenah Es Hayeladim” they were each rewarded. The Yalkut asks: “U’Mah Natlah Miriam Secharah? Chachma.” The Schar that Miriam received was Chachma, which was realized when her great-grandson, Betzalel, was given the gift of Chachmah. According to this Yalkut so it would seem that Betzalel received these various levels of Chachma as a reward for Miriam’s actions and not as the reward for the Mesiras Nefesh of Chur.

R’ Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi points out this seemingly troublesome pair of Medrashim, and asks this question in a very succinct way: “Im Miriam Lama Chur, V’im Chur Lama Miriam?” Why does the Yalkut attribute the success of Betzalel to two of his ancestors?

He explains that the answer lies in two terms that the Yalkut uses to refer to reward. IN the case of Miriam, the Yalkut speaks about Schar: “U’Mah Natlah Miriam Secharah”. R’ Ezrachi explains that just as Yocheved was Zoche to Malchus and Kehunah, that is that we offspring were Kohanim and Melachim, Miriam was Zoche to Chachma—her descendants were given the gift of Chachma. This is called Schar—they were given a Zechus that was later realized through their grandchildren.

Chur, however, was told “Chayecha SheAni Poreah Lecha’, using a Lashon of Pirayon, which is the same a repaying a debt. R’ Baruch Mordechai explains that the fact that Betzalel was given Chachma was not just a Zechus that Chur had—it was a debt that Hakadosh Baruch Hu owed him, so to speak. R’ Baruch Mordechai explains that this is the nature of Mesiras Nefesh: it always produces Peiros. When someone is Moser Nefesh, Hashem becomes a Ba’al Chov to him, so to speak, and his repayment will doubtlessly arrive.

Miriam was rewarded with a Zechus, which can be thought of almost as a qualification: her descendants qualified for the gift of Chachma because of her actions, but just as not all of Yocheved’s children became Kohanim or Melachim, so to not all of Miriam’s children would receive Chacham. When Chur acted in the way that he did, however, he was told that he would be repaid—it would be his grandson who would receive the gift of Chachma and build the Mishkan.

This being the case, we must understand why Chur was specifically “paid back” in this way. Why did Hashem choose to pay of his debt, so to speak, with the building of the Mishkan? How was the reward related to his actions?

Perhaps we can explain the connection as follows.

We know that one of the most important qualifications when it came to the construction of the Mishkan was “Nidivus Lev”. Although there are a number of ways to understand this Middah, it would seem according to many Meforshim that there was an aspect of Mesiras Nefesh that was necessary for the Meleches HaMishkan. We are told, for example, that the Nashim Tzidkanios brought the very jewelry that they were wearing, and not just any gold or silver that they had lying around—this was a particularly special gift to the Mishkan as it showed their self-sacrifice, their Nedivus Lev.

We can imagine that when Klal Yisroel was asked to be Menadev to the Mishkan, and told that not just any donation would do, but it would have to be with Nedivus Lev and Mesiras Nefesh, they may have been hesitant or needed some encouragement. If that was the case, they needed only look at the one standing at the helm of the project: Betzalel Ben Uri Ben Chur L’Matteh Yehudah.

Chur showed an extreme level of Mesiras Nefesh—he was the lone man to stand up agains the Eruv Rav and attempt to forestall the creation of the Egel. The Meshech Chachmah notes that this is a Middah of Shevet Yehudah: Mesiras Nefesh without Cheshbon. Chur did not take the consequences of his actions in to account—he saw a potential travesty and he took a stand. But, as R’ Baruch Mordechai explains, that Mesiras Nefesh was guaranteed to produce Peiros for him and his family. If any member of Klal Yisroel wasn’t sure that they could fulfill the rubric of Nedivus Lev, they would certainly have been encouraged by the selection of Betzalel, which was the direct result of his grandfather’s Mesiras Nefesh. If they could join the efforts to build the Mishkan, and give with Mesiras Nefesh, and without Cheshbon, they too would be guaranteed to produce Peiros for them and their offspring.

I think that this message is perhaps hinted to in the Pessukim.

This week’s Parsha is not the first time that we learn about Betzalel—he is mentioned in Parshas Ki Sisa as well. The Passuk there lists the various talents and abilities with which he was imbued much as the Passuk in our Parsha does, with one excepction. The last Middah that the Torah lists in this week’s Sedra is unique: “U’lihoros Nossan B’Libo.” The simple understanding of this Passuk is that Betzalel was given the ability to teach the various trades that he knew, and indeed most Meforshim explain that this itself is a separate talent—not everyone who is a Chacham is able to successfully impart wisdom onto others. But perhaps there is another understanding.

The Chizkuni explains the term “Lihoros” with just one word: “L’Acherim.” Maybe the Passuk is telling us that Betzalel was given all these Chochmos and abilities for the purposes of showing others the reward for Mesiras Nefesh. We would then read the Passuk as “U’lihoros Nossan B’Libo”: Betzlel was given these gifts so that others would see.

This would also seem to fit with the words of the Yalkut, which says that others were also given the same gifts of Chochma and talent, but Betzalel is the only one who is called out by name: “Re’uh Karisi B’Shem.” This was the ultimate reward for Chur: he was unsuccessful in his effort to prevent the Egel, but his Mesiras Nefesh was not wasted—it produced Peiros. His grandson was given these gifts and abilities, and was lifted up for all to see, so that they too would be inspired to act with Mesiras Nefesh with regard to the Meleches HaMishkan. What better reward could one ask for than for his Middos to be conveyed to others?

As we see from the Mishkan, Mesiras Nefesh does not always mean putting our physical lives on the line—sometimes we are faced with a need to contribute to a specific cause with Mesiras Nefesh and Nedivus Lev. Other times we may encounter a situation which requires a level of Kevishas HaYetzer or Tikun HaMiddos that qualifies as Mesiras Nefesh. In all cases, however, the lesson of Betzelel and Chur is clear: When we act with Mesiras Nefesh we are guaranteed to see Perios—for ourselves and our families. We too can be the recipients of the promise of Hakadosh Baruch Hu: Chayecha SheAni Poreah Lecha.”