With the completion of the Tabernacle, it was brought to Moses: ?All the work of the Communion Tent Tabernacle was then completed?. They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.? (Exodus 39:32-33)
Rashi explains: ?Nobody was able to set it up because of the weight of the boards, which no human strength was capable of setting up on end. Moses, however, succeeded in placing it in position. Moses said to G-d: ?How is its erection possible by human beings?? G-d answered him: ?You do your part with your hand!? He appeared to be erecting it, but in fact it set itself on end and rose of its own accord. This is why the Torah says, ?The tabernacle was erected.? (40:17) It was erected by itself.? (Rashi on Exodus 39:33)
It was erected by itself; in other words, with G-d?s assistance.
Indeed, Man?s strength is limited. Sometimes he faces formidable tasks that are as hard to carry out as the Tabernacle boards were to lift up. Yet, let him not despair. We also have to take into account that G-d assists us. Our rule of thumb is that ?if someone sanctifies himself a little bit, doing whatever he is capable of by his own efforts, G-d will sanctify him greatly, providing him with divine assistance.? (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato in Mesilat Yesharim, ?Midat HaKedushah?)
Today, ours is the generation of the reestablishment of our national home, the ingathering of the exiles and the consolidation of our hold on the land of our life?s blood. This era is fraught with difficulties, complications, struggles and wars. Sometimes, we face harsh, complicated challenges affecting our survival, our security and our economic welfare. No less difficult are the tasks we face in the social and spiritual realm, like imbuing the People of Israel with Jewish tradition, or the unity of our people.
Let us not despair. Quite the contrary, we must strive and struggle, and G-d will then help us. We will erect the ?heavy Tabernacle boards? of our Jewish State, and we will then enjoy the blessing of Moses when he erected the Tabernacle, that the Divine Presence will come to rest upon our handiwork. ?May the favor of the L-rd our G-d rest upon us. O L-rd, consolidate for us the work of our hands.? (Psalms 90:17)
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Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UbeEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il/.
Rashi explains: ?Nobody was able to set it up because of the weight of the boards, which no human strength was capable of setting up on end. Moses, however, succeeded in placing it in position. Moses said to G-d: ?How is its erection possible by human beings?? G-d answered him: ?You do your part with your hand!? He appeared to be erecting it, but in fact it set itself on end and rose of its own accord. This is why the Torah says, ?The tabernacle was erected.? (40:17) It was erected by itself.? (Rashi on Exodus 39:33)
It was erected by itself; in other words, with G-d?s assistance.
Indeed, Man?s strength is limited. Sometimes he faces formidable tasks that are as hard to carry out as the Tabernacle boards were to lift up. Yet, let him not despair. We also have to take into account that G-d assists us. Our rule of thumb is that ?if someone sanctifies himself a little bit, doing whatever he is capable of by his own efforts, G-d will sanctify him greatly, providing him with divine assistance.? (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato in Mesilat Yesharim, ?Midat HaKedushah?)
Today, ours is the generation of the reestablishment of our national home, the ingathering of the exiles and the consolidation of our hold on the land of our life?s blood. This era is fraught with difficulties, complications, struggles and wars. Sometimes, we face harsh, complicated challenges affecting our survival, our security and our economic welfare. No less difficult are the tasks we face in the social and spiritual realm, like imbuing the People of Israel with Jewish tradition, or the unity of our people.
Let us not despair. Quite the contrary, we must strive and struggle, and G-d will then help us. We will erect the ?heavy Tabernacle boards? of our Jewish State, and we will then enjoy the blessing of Moses when he erected the Tabernacle, that the Divine Presence will come to rest upon our handiwork. ?May the favor of the L-rd our G-d rest upon us. O L-rd, consolidate for us the work of our hands.? (Psalms 90:17)
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Rabbi Dov Begon is founder and head of Machon Meir institutions.
Machon Meir is an Israeli educational institution and Hesder yeshiva dedicated to Jewish learning BeAhava UbeEmunah (with Love and in Faith), in the spirit of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, the late Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel. Students at Machon Meir, Israelis and new immigrants, come from religious and non-religious backgrounds, and learn in Hebrew, English or Russian. The Machon can be contacted through its website, http://www.machonmeir.org.il/.