08 Mar WALKING IN THE SHADOW

In this week’s parsha, Ki Sisa, we learn
of Betzalel being designated as the
“general contractor”, the man in charge
of the construction of the Mishkan.
Anyone who ever did construction in
their home knows that there are always
glitches. Things don’t come out exactly
as planned. Materials are delayed,
workers oftentimes don’t show up, and
the job takes longer than anticipated.
Years ago we finished our basement. We
found a contractor who was well-priced,
able to start work right away, and
promised us a quality job. It sounded
amazing. We were sold.
It was too good to be true. A few weeks
later, all we had in our basement was one
big mess – a disaster. We had already
paid far beyond the amount of the work
done and had no choice but to cut our
losses. We sent the first contractor
packing, and had to find a new contractor

to complete the job.
After sharing the tale with the new
contractor, he promptly drew a pie chart.
He divided it into three sections. Quality,
quick and cheap. He told me that one
never gets all three. You might get two
out of three, but never three out of three.
Unlike my experience, when it came to
the Mishkan, Betzalel was the perfect
builder, a true artisan. Everything came
out right – down to the smallest detail.
Betzalel never attended engineering
school, never took an architectural
course, nor did he study the trades of
metalworking, wood crafting or weaving.
How was Betzalel able to accomplish a
task of such epic proportions like the
building of the Mishkan? Not only did
the Mishkan come our exactly as planned,
but all the holy objects in it – the Aron,
Menorah, Mizbeiach, Shulchan and all
the vessels – all were completed to the
exact specifications described in the
Torah. This was nothing short of a
miracle.

The Torah tells us “Va-amaley oso ruach
Elokim b’chochmah, b’svunah u’vodaas,
u’vechol melachah – I (HaShem)
bestowed upon him (Betzalel) the spirit
of G-d in wisdom, understanding and
knowledge, and in all manner of
workmanship”. (Shemos 31:3)
Betzalel was blessed with the Divine
inspiration required to succeed in his
task of building a resting place for the
Shechinah. A place where Bnei Yisroel
can turn to, reach out and connect to
HaShem.
The name Betzalel is composed of two
words. B’tzail – in the shadow of, and
keil – G-d. Betzalel lived his life walking
in the shadow of HaShem.
Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur, from
the tribe of Yehudah. Usually, the Torah
mentions only a father’s name (as in “ben
– son of”). However, with Betzalel, his
lineage is traced back to his grandfather,
Chur.
This week’s parsha describes the tragic
episode of the Eigel Hazahav, the Golden
Calf. A chapter in the history of the
Jewish people that is difficult to
comprehend. A story of a misguided
group who rose in rebellion against
HaShem. Chur tried to dissuade the
malcontents from going ahead with
their plan, and used every possible
argument to stop the rebellion from
escalating. The mob would not be
deterred, and they rose up against
Chur, ultimately killing him.
Chur stood up and fought for the honor
and sanctity of HaShem’s name. Chur,
was the son of Miriam. Like his mother
and grandmother, Yocheved before
him, Chur lived his life striving to do
the right thing. Just as Miriam and
Yocheved as midwives defied
Pharaoh’s decrees and brought Jewish
life into the world, Chur stood up to
those who rebelled, and created the
Golden Calf.
The Mishkan atoned for the sin of the
Golden Calf. The Torah is teaching us
that Chur’s death wasn’t for naught.
Daas Zekeinim tells us that Chur’s
name is mentioned, for he was
rewarded with a grandson, Betzalel. A
grandson who walked in the shadow of
HaShem. A grandson who was the
builder and craftsman of the Mishkan.
Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur.

At times, we may feel that our tefillos go
unanswered. But one should know that
HaShem hears every tefillah, every
prayer, every request. HaShem sees all
our actions, and while we may not
experience the reward right away, no
good deed is forgotten.
A story is told of a mother of a large
family living in Yerushalayim.
Unfortunately, her husband was
diagnosed with a terminal illness, and as
can be expected, she was totally
distraught and brokenhearted. Day and
night she turned to her Tehillim and
poured out her heart to HaShem. He tears
soaked the pages of her Tehillim. How
painful it was when her beloved husband
passed away.
Armed with her Tehillim, she turned to
her rav, a saintly and holy man. She
showed him her tear-soaked Tehillim.
She shared how she had davened day and
night, and asked how could this have
happened. What was the purpose of all
her prayers? Where did her tears ago?
The rav answered that no prayer goes
unanswered, no request goes unheeded.
He told her to imagine a giant flask in the
Heavens above, collecting all her tears.
HaShem is holding on to those tears,
saving them for a time when they will be
needed. It may not be during her lifetime
or even in her children’s lifetimes. But
there will be a future generation who will
be blessed from Above, a blessing whose
source is a mother’s or grandmother’s
tears and prayers stored in a bottle.
My mother a”h would often say that we
all had bubbies and zaydies who lived for
us, did mitzvos for us, and in some cases
even gave up their lives for us. While we
may not always realize it, our lives our
guided in the right direction by their
prayers during their lifetime and even
after they leave this world, by their
continued tefillos on our behalf in the
Eternal World.