A salmon and a chicken were once walking down the street when they passed by a restaurant. In the window was a sign that read, "Special today: Lox and eggs."


The chicken turned to the salmon and said, "Hey, why don't we go in there and help these people out!"


The salmon vigorously shook his fins and said, "Nothing doing! I'm not setting foot in that place!"


"Why not?" said the chicken. "We all have to do our part for the common good. Why won't you help?"


"Because from you," replied the salmon, "they want a contribution. From me, they want a commitment!"

Why didn't HaShem just announce the whole total of the nation?



Our sedra begins with the counting of the people. This must have been a daunting task; Rashi says each person passed under the "bar" to be registered. Even Moshe was fazed by the enormity of the task (he also did not want to intrude on the privacy of each tent). And so, says the Midrash, HaShem assisted him in the counting: Moshe would stand outside and call out the name of the family, and a Bat Kol would reply with the number of souls for Moshe to record.


Which causes us to ask: Why didn't HaShem just announce the whole total of the nation? Why did Moshe have to go around to the tents at all? The answer should be obvious: it's never G-d's task alone. We all have our part to play. We cannot be lazy and leave it up to just HaShem. As His partners in the great adventure of life, we must be active contributors. In the economy, the army, the government, education - in every sphere of life. He'll do His part, to be sure, but we have our own "calling," too.


In our parsha, young Bezalel (a tender 13-year-old!) is chosen as Chief Architect. Now, what made Bezalel so special? Sure, he must have been skilled and blessed with energy and creativity. But why specifically him, and not others?


The answer, I suggest, is hinted at in his introduction. He is called Bezalel son of Uri son of Chur. His assistant, Ohaliav, is only traced back to his father, while Bezalel is linked to his grandfather. According to the Midrash, Chur was killed al Kiddush HaShem when he tried to stop the people from building the Golden Calf. He defiantly stood up to them, but was murdered by the wild mob. It is this quality of mesirat nefesh that Bezalel inherited from his grandfather and which set him apart from, and a bit higher than, others. He would give his all - down to his very soul - to play his part in G-d's world.


He was prepared not just to make a contribution; he was ready to make a commitment.