In this week’s Torah reading, we learn about the details of building the mishkan, or Tabernacle. This structure was an amazing accomplishment - a dwelling place for God in the desert. Parashat Vayakhel describes how Moses called Aholi’ab, Betzal’el, and others to engage in the melakha, the work of the Tabernacle:
Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man whose heart Hashem endowed with wisdom, everyone whose heart inspired him, to come close to the work, to do it.[1]
The question can be asked: Why does it say “to come close to the work?” The text should read “everyone whose heart inspired him to do it.” This reveals a very crucial aspect that goes beyond the construction of the mishkan; it teaches us an important principle of worshiping God that is very relevant to us. Before we engage in Jewish law, we should first get close to it, try and make it relatable and personal. We should ask ourselves: How can I, personally, understand and appreciate this particular law?
Later in the parasha it states:
He made the Laver of copper and its base of copper, from the mirrors of [women who reared] the legions who massed at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.[2]
Rashi asks, very reasonably, “Where did they get these mirrors?” Rashi explains that these mirrors were used by the Israelite women in Egypt. While their husbands were out performing slave-work, the women would go and bring them food and drink. Before they would go out, they would use these mirrors to make themselves beautiful thereby strengthening their husband’s desire for them. As such, they had many children, populating the Nation of Israel, and giving them “legions”.
Initially, however, Moses had reservations about using such mirrors, as they could be seen as a symbol of vanity. However, God disagreed and understood their importance. These mirrors were how the woman enabled themselves to feel connected to God. They were used to promote harmony in their homes and love between wives and their husbands. They, therefore, merited having such an integral role in the construction of the mishkan.
Clearly, there is something to finding a unique and personal way to approach God. We must find how a certain mitzvah appeals to us and use that aspect to perform said mitzvah. When I read Rashi’s commentary about the mirrors, I immediately thought of the actor and director of the movie Ushpizin, Shuli Rand. The actor was born to an observant family, but left Orthodoxy and became successful in theater. When he returned to Judaism and became a Breslover Hassid, he withdrew from acting, deeming it “inappropriate”. However, after eight years, he realized that theater is a part of him and he should figure out how to include this passion into his new life. Through this, Ushpizin was born. Rand was able to connect to Judaism through something that individually appealed to him. I think this is one way to understand the phrase “shiv’im panim laTorah” or “seventy faces to the Torah.”[3] Judaism encompasses so many different attributes and characteristics that each individual can find a way to relate to it and make it meaningful.
With that, I hope that we can spend this Shabbat trying to see the new ways in which we can incorporate our distinct personalities, talents, and passions into the worship and service of God. Shabbat Shalom!
